Coronavirus 4 1 1 podcast

This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 26th, 2021.

California will start vaccinating anyone 16 and over in 3 weeks, joining an ever-growing list of states that are doing so. The state expects to get 2.5 million doses a week in the first half of the month and more than 3 million a week in the second. Alaska’s already vaccinating those 16 and over. Florida will open to 18+ April 5, and Texas will start inoculating all adults next week.

Hard to find any vaccination effort beating Israel’s. The country has now administered two doses of vaccine to more than half its population. Israel began easing a nationwide lockdown in late February and has seen an 85% drop in daily deaths, a 72% drop in the critically ill, and 86% fewer daily cases since mid-January.

The U.K. is extending coronavirus emergency measures for six months, allowing the government to maintain the ability to restrict citizens’ everyday lives. This includes the power to ban protests, shut down businesses, restrict travel, and detain people suspected of being infected.

Research shows rapid antigen tests on arrival after travel can be just as effective as a ten-day quarantine. Of course, that research was commissioned by several British airlines. Last year, Britain’s 10-day quarantine rules for arrivals from most countries hammered travel and stopped countless people from taking trips.

In a sign you might have to get the vaccine or quit college, Rutgers University will require students enrolling for the 2021 fall semester to prove they’ve been vaccinated for COVID. Rutgers is believed to be the first large university in the U.S., maybe the first college of any size, to require vaccines.

In the United States cases were flat, deaths are down 31%, and hospitalizations down 12% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,018,080 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Webster, NE. Chattahoochee, GA. Dimmit, TX. Big Horn, MT. Bacon, GA. Huron, MI. Otsego, MI. Wexford, MI. Beaver, UT. And Sanilac, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 546,504 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 242. Texas 133. Florida 101. Georgia 91. New York 78. Michigan 54. Massachusetts 40. Pennsylvania and New Jersey 38. And Illinois 34.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 33.7%, Alaska at 31.9%, and Connecticut at 31.1%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 20%, Alabama at 20.8%, and Tennessee at 21.9%.

Globally, cases were up 23% and deaths up 6% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now 21,570,962 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 97,586. The United States 67,046. India 59,069. France 45,641. And Poland 34,151.

There have now been 2,753,597 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 25th, 2021.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel dropped plans for a 5-day shutdown over Easter, calling it a mistake and apologizing to citizens. The move came after a videoconference with Germany’s 16 state governors. The plan raised logistical and legal questions and was criticized for there being no public discussion of it before it emerged Tuesday.

On the flipside, Belgium is reintroducing a strict lockdown in response to a surge of new infections. Schools are closing and residents will have limited access to nonessential businesses. Confirmed new cases in Belgium increased 40% over the last week and hospital admissions rose 28% after a long period of stability.

Cuba will administer experimental vaccines to nearly the entire population of Havana by May in a massive study. Cuba’s in late phase trials of two of its five experimental shots, which will be Latin America’s first homegrown vaccines if testing is successful.

France’s high-profile culture minister has been hospitalized for COVID-19 as the nation faces a third surge propelled by the highly contagious British variant. France’s Employment Minister, as well, was only recently released from the hospital. President Emmanuel Macron was infected months ago but was never hospitalized.

In the United States, hospitalization rates in Michigan soared in March among younger people. Up 633% for those aged 30 to 39 and 800% for those 40 to 49. It was noted, however, hospitalization rates decline as vaccination rates in age groups go up.

In the United States cases were down 7%, deaths are down 40%, and hospitalizations down 13% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,012,991 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Webster, NE. Chattahoochee, GA. Lyon, KY. Hitchcock, NE. Huron, MI. Bacon, GA. Big Horn, MT. Otsego, MI. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. And Sanilac, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 545,245 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 261. Texas 174. New York 154. Georgia 72. Oklahoma 62. Pennsylvania 57. Massachusetts 55. New Jersey 50. Kentucky 49. And Tennessee 45.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 33.4%, Alaska at 31.6%, and Connecticut at 30.7%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 19.4%, Alabama at 20.3%, and Tennessee at 21.4%.

Globally, cases were up 20% and deaths up 3% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now 21,379,321 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 90,564. The United States 66,538. India 53,419. France 33,389. And Poland 29,978.

There have now been 2,742,357 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 24th, 2021.

AstraZeneca cannot seem to catch a break. U.S. health officials said the recently announced results from the company’s U.S. trial may have included "outdated information.” AstraZeneca reported its vaccine provided 79% protection among adults of all ages and no serious side effects, but the Data and Safety Monitoring Board said it’s concerned that represents an incomplete view of the efficacy data.

Brazil reported more than 3,000 COVID-19 deaths in one day for the first time yesterday. There are calls for the government and the new health minister to take action as the country becomes the pandemic’s global epicenter.

France will offer vaccine shots to anyone over 70 from this weekend. There’s a renewed sense of urgency as France and its EU neighbors are suffering a third wave. The head of France’s hospital federation said hospitals could face an “unprecedented shock” within 3 weeks.

A reminder the virus is cruel and undiscriminating. 20 patients and staffers in the cancer ward at Duke Raleigh Hospital tested positive in a coronavirus outbreak. So far it’s been contained to one fifth floor wing. Infected patients who continue to require hospitalization have been moved to the hospital's COVID-19 unit.

The travel industry is telling the U.S. government enough is enough. More than two dozen travel trade groups signed a letter that went to the White House saying it’s time for international travel restrictions to end. They want a “risk-based, data-driven roadmap” to cancel inbound international travel restrictions by May 1 and an end to mandatory quarantines but keeping the testing mandate.

In the United States cases were down 8%, deaths are down 35%, and hospitalizations down 17% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,040,066 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Huron, MI. Otsego, MI. Wexford, MI. Shawnee, KS. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Missaukee, MI. Boone, NE. And Sanilac, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 543,798 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 198. Texas 79. New Jersey 61. Arizona 53. Florida 48. Ohio 42. Pennsylvania and Tennessee 34. Georgia 32. And New York, Massachusetts, and Mississippi 21.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 33.3%, Alaska at 31.5%, and South Dakota at 30.4%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 19.4%, Alabama at 19.8%, and Tennessee at 21.3%.

Globally, cases were up 25% and deaths up 3% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now 21,223,694 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 84,996. The United States 58,705. India 47,264. Turkey 26,182. And Italy 18,765.

There have now been 2,732,562 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 23rd, 2021.

A late-stage U.S. study shows the PR plagued AstraZeneca vaccine provided 79% efficacy against disease and 100% protection against hospitalization and death across all age groups. The study, of course, was done by AstraZeneca, but the company said its experts also identified no safety concerns including blood clotting. AstraZeneca's vaccine has yet to be given the green light in the U.S.

New cases of COVID-19 in the United States rose 5% to more than 394,000 last week, the first increase after declining nine straight weeks, according to Reuters and CDC data. 30 out of 50 states reported more new infections in the week ended March 21 compared with the previous seven days, up from 19 states in the prior week.

Germany extended its lockdown measures by another month and imposed several new restrictions, including largely shutting down public life over Easter. Chancellor Angela Merkel announced the measures after a lengthy video call with the country's 16 state governors. Restrictions will remain in place until April 18.

Not just Germany but vaccinations across all of the EU have been less than stellar. And there are still sometimes angry comparison being made to the U.K. Critics point out the U.K. inoculated 844,285 people Saturday, which is more than the daily combined figures for France, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Portugal, Poland, Austria, Greece, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Denmark.

If you need another incentive to get vaccinated, here’s a sweet one. Starting Monday and going to the end of this year, if you take your vaccination card to any Krispy Kreme in the US, you can get a free glazed doughnut. Not just once, but every day. Of course, it’s a treat, not exactly a health plan.

In the United States cases were down 7%, deaths are down 38%, and hospitalizations down 17% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,175,014 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Huron, MI. Missaukee, MI. Boone, NE. Pitkin, CO. Wexford, MI. Simpson, KY. And Otsego, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, Michigan, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 542,888 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 181. Texas 79. Kentucky 61. Louisiana 42. Florida 35. New York 31. Massachusetts 27. Georgia 26. Illinois 22. And South Carolina 20.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 33%, Alaska at 31.2%, and South Dakota at 30.2%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 18.8%, Alabama at 19.8%, and Tennessee at 21%.

Globally, cases were up 24% and deaths up 1% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now 21,289,277 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 53,386. The United States 45,748. India 40,611. Turkey 22,216. And France 15,792.

There have now been 2,722,203 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 22nd, 2021.

Germany’s Health Minister says vaccines will not arrive quickly enough to prevent a third wave of the pandemic. He said, new infections are rising at a "very clearly exponential rate and even if the deliveries from EU orders come reliably, it will still take a few weeks until the risk groups are fully vaccinated."

Checking in on the 5 countries doing best so far ranked by percentage of the population that’s had at least one dose; Seychelles 65.1%, Maldives 58.8%, Israel 57.1%, the U.K. at 41.4%, and Chile at 29.3%. The United States is 8th at 25.4%.

An Israeli-American pharmaceutical company is getting ready to launch a Phase I clinical trial for what could be the world’s first oral COVID-19 vaccine. The technology can be used to orally administer several protein-based therapies that’d otherwise be delivered by injection. This would be valuable in terms of wide-scale distribution, especially if the vaccine eventually gets recommended annually like the flu shot.

A new study has looked at how effective the Pfizer vaccine is for those who are asymptomatic and the answer is it appears to be 94% effective in preventing infections from people who have the virus, but who aren’t showing symptoms. The study also showed the Pfizer vaccine is 97% effective in preventing severe cases, hospitalizations, and death.

As predicted, Spring Break has become a bit of a problem. Miami Beach Police fired pepper balls into crowds of partiers and arrested at least a dozen Saturday. Officials say they are “out of control and more than we can handle.” A state of emergency has been set as well as an 8 p.m. curfew.

In the United States cases were down 9%, deaths are down 40%, and hospitalizations down 19% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,212,199 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Concho, TX. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Chattahoochee, GA. Huron, MI. Missaukee, MI. Boone, NE. Wexford, MI. Pitkin, CO. And Simpson, KY.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, and Delaware.

There have been 542,356 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 85. Texas 55. New Jersey 40. Massachusetts 35. South Carolina 30. Illinois 28. Florida 27. Indiana 20. And New York and Kentucky 18.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 32.3%, Alaska at 30.2%, and South Dakota at 29.6%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 18.1%, Alabama at 19.6%, and Utah at 20.3%.

Globally, cases were up 21% and deaths down 1% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now 21,345,013 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 47,774. India 47,009. The United States 39,496. France 30,581. And Poland 21,849.

There have now been 2,714,606 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 19th, 2021.

It’s back to business for Europe and the AstraZeneca vaccine. A dozen countries will resume its use after the European Medicines Agency said its initial investigation of possible side effects concluded the vaccine is “safe and effective.” However, EMA officials said their inquiry could not rule out a connection between the vaccine and unusual clotting and bleeding disorders.

The latest figures show England's worst Covid hotspot saw new cases rise nearly 50% in just a week. Corby in Northamptonshire is one of 124 places in the country where infections had big jumps in the previous 7 days.

Back to lockdowns in Paris. The French government imposed a month-long lockdown for Paris and parts of northern France after a faltering vaccine rollout and the spread of highly contagious variants. The French President had been trying to avoid another hit to the economy, but the country is in the grip of a third wave.

India and Pakistan also reported a big jump in new infections yesterday. In India, curfews have been extended in 9 districts and other areas are seeking additional vaccine doses as schools and colleges close. In Pakistan, they had the most daily infections since early December and hospital beds are filling fast.

In the U.S. it’s March Madness meets COVID madness. The NCAA said it administered more than 9,100 tests before last night's opening round of the men's basketball tournament, with only 8 total positives among Tier 1, 2 and 3 personnel. Participants include the defending champion Virginia Cavaliers, who had to withdraw from the ACC tournament because of a positive test.

In the United States cases were down 15%, deaths are down 32%, and hospitalizations down 21% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since March 14. 

There are now 7,282,611 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Concho, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. Webster, WV. Nuckolls, NE. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Pittsylvania, VA. Pitkin, CO. Huron, MI. And Missaukee, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Alabama.

There have been 539,659 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Kentucky 448. California 276. Texas 194. New York 85. Florida 83. Georgia 61. Arizona 59. Pennsylvania 44. Michigan 34. And Illinois 32.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 30.1%, Alaska at 28.8%, and South Dakota at 28.1%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 16.1%, Alabama at 18.2%, and Tennessee at 19%.

Globally, cases were up 18% and deaths down 3% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 5.  

There are now back over 21 million active cases around the world at 21,003,371

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 87,169. The United States 62,629. India 39,643. France 34,998. And Poland 27,278.

There have now been 2,689,898 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 18th, 2021.

CNN reports new infections are again on the rise by more than 10% this week in 14 states across the U.S. That’s mostly happening in the upper Midwest, the New York area and the Mid-Atlantic. This is beginning to reverse downward trends that were happening since mid-January. According to the New York Times, in the last week, U.S. cases have averaged around 55,000 a day.

Two strains first detected in California are now officially "variants of concern," according to the CDC. The variants may be about 20% more transmissible, and some treatments may be less effective against them. However, the CDC did not say that vaccines would stop working against them. The next classification after “variant of concern” is “variant of high consequence.”

The EU's executive body proposed yesterday issuing certificates that would let EU residents travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by summer if they’ve been vaccinated, tested negative, or recovered from COVID-19. The plan to get travel going again will be discussed during a summit of EU leaders next week.

In the U.S., it’s schools they want to get going again. The government plans to invest $10 billion in Covid-19 screening for schools. That’s the latest step to increase testing and encourage schools to reopen for in-person learning.

Do you tend to walk really fast? Or are you a slow walker? British researchers say if you plod or shuffle along, you’re at higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. The study found that among those whose weight was normal, slow walkers were more than twice as likely to develop severe COVID-19 and 3.75 times more likely to die of it than those who walk briskly, even obese people who walk fast.

In the United States cases were down 16%, deaths are down 35%, and hospitalizations down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 7,296,874 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Concho, TX. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Pitkin, CO. Nuckolls, NE. Huron, MI. And Missaukee, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Alabama.

There have been 537,992 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 272. Texas 181. New Jersey 79. Georgia 72. New York 65. Florida 58. South Carolina 52. Virginia 50. Massachusetts 44. And Pennsylvania 36.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 29.6%, Alaska at 28.2%, and South Dakota at 27.7%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 16.1%, Alabama at 17.8%, and Tennessee at 18.5%.

Globally, cases were up 15% and deaths down 5% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 15.  

There are now 20,913,921 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 90,830. The United States 62,794. France 38,501. India 35,838. And Poland 25,052.

There have now been 2,679,063 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 17th, 2021.

As still more countries suspend use of the AstraZeneca vaccines over concerns about side effects, the head of the European Medicines Agency says there’s “no indication” they’re the cause of blood clots. The agency is “firmly convinced” the benefits of the AstraZeneca shot outweigh the risks, but an evaluation is ongoing.

But the need for vaccines is obviously still significant. Infectious disease experts say infections are rising exponentially in Germany. It’s in a third wave of the pandemic, reportedly driven by an easing of restrictions as more contagious variants spread. And Italy yesterday recorded its highest daily number of deaths since late January.

Children have gotten their first doses of Moderna's vaccine as the company studies its safety and effectiveness for those aged 6 months to less than 12 years old. Kids in the test who get the real vaccine will get one of three possible doses, from 25 micrograms up to 100 micrograms. Moderna's current vaccine is only authorized for people 18 and older.

In the U.S., NBC News reports about 25% of the House of Representatives has not been vaccinated, even though they had access since December. But that might be truly representative because NPR polling shows 25% of Americans are skeptical of the shots. And in a related story, White House staff working in-person are now no longer being tested for Covid-19 daily.

A woman in south Florida who had one dose of Moderna’s vaccine while pregnant gave birth to the first known baby born with Covid-19 antibodies “after maternal vaccination.” The claim has not been peer-reviewed but the baby girl was said to have been born 3 weeks after inoculation, and the antibodies were detected in blood from her umbilical cord.

In the United States cases were down 18%, deaths are down 32%, and hospitalizations down 27% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 7,302,468 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Concho, TX. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Huron, MI. Nuckolls, NE. Otsego, MI. And Missaukee, MI.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 536,871 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 150. Texas 133. New York 98. Florida 96. Oklahoma 87. Pennsylvania 83. Virginia 44. New Jersey 41. Ohio 31. And Michigan and Mississippi 26.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 29.3%, Alaska at 28.1%, and South Dakota at 27.6%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 15.9%, Alabama at 17.4%, and Tennessee at 18.5%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 7% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending down since March 14.  

There are now 20,767,587 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 84,124. The United States 52,650. France 29,975. India 28,869. And Italy 20,396.

There have now been 2,669,734 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 16th, 2021.

Germany, France, and Italy are joining countries hitting pause on the AstraZeneca vaccine after several countries reported possible serious side-effects. That throws the EU’s already struggling vaccination effort into further disarray. Those countries join Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain.

A member of the World Health Organization investigative team says wildlife farms in southern China are the most likely source of the pandemic. The WHO team found evidence these farms supplied vendors at the market in Wuhan. The Chinese government has been promoting these farms for 20 years as a way to alleviate rural poverty. Upon the outbreak, the government shut them down and told farmers how to dispose of the animals.

A new CDC study shows not only have Americans been good about getting a vaccine, they’ve been good about doing it the proper way. Namely, they’re very diligent about getting their second shot. Historically, about half of patients skip subsequent doses of multi-dose regimens. But 88% who were eligible for a second dose followed through as of mid-February. And did so within the recommended time frame.

And it appears those vaccines will only get better. Moderna has dosed the first participant in an early-stage study of a new vaccine candidate that could be stored and shipped in refrigerators instead of freezers. That would be good news for developing countries. They’re also evaluating it as a potential booster shot.

One group that appears to have little interest in getting vaccinated, correctional officers. A poll of Florida correctional officers found only 40 of 475 respondents said they’d get it. In Massachusetts, Iowa, and California, around half declined or will decline to be immunized. In Rhode Island, more prison staff are refusing the vaccine than prisoners.

In the United States cases were down 19%, deaths are down 31%, and hospitalizations down 27% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 7,304,022 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Concho, TX. Beaver, UT. Nuckolls, NE. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Yuma, CO. Otsego, MI. And Ida, IA.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.

There have been 535,596 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 166. Florida 93. New York 84. Texas 52. Georgia 47. Colorado 43. Virginia 41. Massachusetts 28. And Kentucky and Connecticut 23.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 29%, Alaska at 27.7%, and South Dakota at 27.4%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 15.7%, Alabama at 17.3%, and Tennessee at 18.1%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 6% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,686,157 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 45,045. Brazil 42,107. India 24,437. Turkey 15,503. And Italy 15,267.

There have now been 2,659,623 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 15th, 2021. 

The story today, a resurgence of Covid across Europe. In Italy, three-quarters of the population went into a strict lockdown today. A more contagious U.K. variant and a slow vaccine rollout led to a 15% increase in cases last week. The entire country will be on lockdown for the Easter weekend to stop family gatherings. It looks like the Paris region is also headed for a new lockdown as ICU units fill up with variant victims and vaccine supplies are limited. And looking forward, the U.K.’s head of the Office for National Statistics warned they are ‘no doubt’ facing another wave of coronavirus in the Fall. England’s chief medical officer also cautioned the UK will experience another surge. 

But it’s not just Europe. Brazil exceeded 2,000 Covid-related deaths in one day for the first time ever. Wednesday, the country recorded 79,876 new cases, the 3rd highest number in a single day as many ICUs were at more than 90% capacity. And India reported the biggest daily increase in cases this year Sunday. The hardest hit state goes into lockdown today.

In the United States, Duke University issued a quarantine order for all undergraduates effective Saturday night because of an outbreak caused by students who went to recruitment parties. The quarantine will go to at least March 21 with suspension or dismissal from school for flagrant or repeat violators.

Health officials in Ireland recommended temporary suspension of the AstraZeneca vaccine after four reports of serious blood clotting after inoculations in Norway. There’s no conclusive link between the vaccine and the cases, but the suspension is being recommended as a precaution and Danish, Norwegian and Icelandic authorities are taking similar steps.

You’ve heard it again and again, proper social distancing to help avoid catching Covid-19 through the air is 6 feet. But a new study out of Massachusetts showed the spread is pretty much the same in classrooms when students are just three feet apart. Reacting, Dr. Anthony Fauci said when the data shows there’s an ability to be three feet apart, the CDC will act accordingly. 

In the United States cases were down 19%, deaths are down 31%, and hospitalizations down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26.  

There are now 7,365,186 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Beaver, UT. Nuckolls, NE. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Otsego, MI. Ida, IA. Fannin, TX. And Bonneville, ID. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. 

There have been 534,877 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 180. New York 98. Texas 79. Virginia 34. Florida and Massachusetts 31. Louisiana 23. Arkansas 19. Illinois 18. And Kentucky 16. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 27.7%, Connecticut at 27.6%, and Alaska at 26.5%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 14.6%, Alabama at 16.7%, and Tennessee at 17%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 9% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,785,269 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 44,120. The United States 36,896. India...  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 12th, 2021.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is upset over vaccine nationalism and vaccine hoarding, as well as side deals with vaccine manufacturers that undermine some countries’ efforts. He called this “the greatest moral test of our times.”

In Brazil, hospitals are reportedly faltering as a highly contagious variant tears through the country. One Governor said unless the pressure lets up, more and more patients will have to endure COVID-19 without a hospital bed or any hope of getting into ICU. He said, “The chance of dying without assistance is real.”

The U.S. administration promised there’ll be enough vaccines for every U.S. adult by the end of May. But that depends largely on the manufacturers. Pfizer and Moderna agreed to supply 100 million doses each by the end of March and they have under three weeks left to deliver the remaining 37% of that deal.

Believe it or not, there’s a country that yesterday confirmed its very first death from COVID-19. And that country is Cambodia. The deceased was a 50-year-old male who worked as a driver for a Chinese company in a coastal area. The new outbreak was traced to a foreign resident who broke quarantine in a hotel and went to a nightclub in early February.

The mental toll the pandemic has taken on Americans became clearer with a new report from the American Psychological Association. What’s called a “collective trauma" is manifesting itself in drastic weight changes and heavier drinking. In the most stunning finding, the increase in alcohol use more than doubled among parents with children in early elementary school.

In the United States cases were down 16%, deaths are down 30%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 8,584,883 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Hartley, TX. Dallam, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Beaver, UT. Caldwell, KY. Otsego, MI. Franklin City, VA. And Orleans, VT.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina.

There have been 530,712 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 251. Texas 203. New York 113. Georgia 81. Florida 67. Arizona 60. Illinois 55. Virginia 53. Alabama 52. And Pennsylvania 50.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 26.1%, Connecticut at 25.8%, and Alaska at 25.7%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 13.4%, Alabama at 15.7%, and Tennessee at 16%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 11% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,747,298 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 78,297. The United States 62,773. France 27,166. Italy 25,673. And India 21,668.

There have now been 2,628,543 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 11th, 2021.

Researchers say a highly infectious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in Britain late last year is between 30% and 100% more deadly than previous dominant variants. The B.1.1.7 variant has since also been found in more than 100 other countries. It has 23 mutations in its genetic code and is about 40%-70% more transmissible than previous dominant variants.

The EU and the UK are in quite a tiff. The European Council President said Britain banned the export of vaccines, but U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons, “We have not blocked the export of a single vaccine or vaccine components.” The vaccination drive in Britain is seen as a huge success at 35% of adults while that of the EU has been a major failure at 9.5%.

If you have a family member in a nursing home, you can go hug them now if they’ve been vaccinated. The government says those residents can now get indoor visits from family as long as the visiting family member is masked.

Remember all the talk about plasma treatments and how Covid-19 survivors should donate much needed plasma for those treatments? More than half a million Americans got treatments like that but after a year, there’s no proof it does any good at all. The leading researcher doing it decided to stop offering it after two very large trials found no benefit. Proponents of convalescent plasma says it works, it just has to be given early in an infection before hospitalization.

Employers can force employees to get a vaccine or they can do what Bridgestone is doing. Pay them. Its offering its 33,000 U.S. employees $100 to get the shots. In a similar behavior modification story, the University of California, Davis is telling students if you don’t go anywhere for spring break, we’ll give you $75. So far student response is said to be “awesome.”

In the United States cases were down 14%, deaths are down 20%, and hospitalizations down 33% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 8,679,663 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Hartley, TX. Lyon, KY. Dallam, TX. Sherman, TX. Petersburg Borough, AK. Chattahoochee, GA. Winston, AL. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK. Calhoun, AL. And Orleans, VT.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.

There have been 529,213 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 267. Texas 215. New Jersey 133. New York 111. Florida 86. Arizona 78. Virginia 59. Georgia 58. Massachusetts 53. And Pennsylvania 45.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 26%, Alaska at 25.3%, and Connecticut at 25.2%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 13.4%, Alabama at 15.2%, and Tennessee at 15.6%.

Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 10% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,759,397 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 80,955. The United States 60,355. France 30,303. India 22,841. And Italy 22,409.

There have now been 2,618,490 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 10th, 2021. 

A first-of-its-kind test for detecting whether someone was infected in the past that uses the body's T-cells was granted emergency authorization by the FDA. It would be a game changer for many with long term symptoms and for people who never got a clear answer on whether or not they were infected. T-cells can better "remember" prior infections and are thus said to be superior to other antibody tests.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine reports the Pfizer vaccine was able to neutralize a new variant spreading rapidly in Brazil. Scientists said this neutralizing ability was almost equal to the vaccine’s effect on a previous less contagious version of the virus from last year.

Breaking news, not everything on Instagram is real. A non-profit that tracks online misinformation reports the platform recommended false claims about COVID-19 and vaccines. From September to November 2020, Instagram recommended 104 posts containing misinformation to 15 profiles set up by the group. These automated recommendations appeared in the "suggested posts" and "Explore" features.

A Pew Research survey shows black Americans stand out from groups in the U.S. for high levels of concern about the pandemic. 81% think it’s a major threat to public health. 49% think it’s a major threat to their own health. 61% say they’ll definitely or probably get a vaccine. That compares to 69% of white adults, 70% of Hispanic adults and 91% of Asian adults. 

There’s one dose of vaccine you’re definitely not getting. The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has acquired the vial containing the first dose of vaccine administered in the United States. It’s part of an exhibit to document the pandemic and “this extraordinary period we were going through.”

In the United States cases were down 12%, deaths are down 18%, and hospitalizations down 34% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26.  

There are now 8,711,254 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Dallam, TX. Lyon, KY. Hartley, TX. Cimarron, OK. Sherman, TX. Coke, TX. La Salle, TX. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Petersburg Borough, AK. And Chattahoochee, GA. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Florida. 

There have been 527,643 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.81%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 227. Texas 168. Oklahoma 167. Florida 162. Virginia 107. Missouri 99. New York 83. New Jersey 45. Ohio 40. And Pennsylvania 39. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 25.8%, Alaska at 24.9%, and Connecticut at 24.8%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 13.3%, Alabama at 14.9%, and Utah at 15.1%.

Globally, cases were up 9% and deaths down 8% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,692,497 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 69,537. The United States 55,683. France 23,302. Italy 19,749. And India 16,846. 

There have now been 2,609,805 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 9th, 2021.

The CDC made it official fully vaccinated Americans can get together with other vaccinated people indoors without a mask or social distancing. Vaccinated people can also get together in a single household with people considered at low risk. Think vaccinated grandparents visiting healthy grandkids.

The latest world leader to test positive is Syrian President Bashar Assad. He and his wife tested positive but have mild symptoms only. He is 55, she is 45 but is a breast cancer survivor. The pandemic has been a major challenge for Syria's health care sector, which was already depleted by years of war.

A probe in South Korea concluded there is no causal link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and eight deaths in recently vaccinated people. All eight were in long-term care facilities and had pre-existing health conditions. None showed an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

In Canada, an association representing nursing homes says almost half of employees still haven’t filled out their consent form for vaccination. 90% of residents have received a vaccine, but the staffs, not so much. Reasons vary, but most officials think lack of information and misinformation about the vaccine is at the root of the problem.

Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome club was packed Saturday for a massive dance party. Sounds irresponsible right? But they were asked to do it, for science. It was a study of how safe such large events currently are. 1,300 people, who all tested negative first, were organized into different groups following different rules and tracked. One group was even told to sing and scream to the music to see how much spit flew out of them.

In the United States cases were down 12%, deaths are down 10%, and hospitalizations down 34% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26. 

There are now 8,756,390 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Dallam, TX. Hartley, TX. Petersburg Borough, AK. Crowley, CO. Cimarron, OK. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Sherman, TX. La Salle, TX. And Coke, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Arkansas, and South Carolina.

There have been 525,750 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 171. Virginia 87. Florida 83. Texas 69. New York 64. Georgia 42. North Carolina 33. Arkansas 24. Washington 22. And Connecticut 21.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 24.7%, New Mexico at 24.6%, and Connecticut at 24.1%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 13.4%, Alabama at 14.5%, and Utah at 15.1%.

Globally, cases were up 7% and deaths down 8% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.  

There are now 21,712,353 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 45,116. Brazil 36,136. India 15,353. Italy 13,902. And Turkey 13,215.

There have now been 2,599,596 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 8th, 2021. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci said it’s not widespread yet but a variant that’s shown resistance to antibody treatments and vaccines is spreading efficiently through New York City and beyond. The good news is it’s not as resistant as the quick-spreading variant from South Africa. Fauci says it remains important to vaccinate as “quickly as possible.” 

Oregon now has become the first state in the U.S. where a specific, new variant has been discovered. They already have 11 cases of the UK variant and a case of the Brazilian variant. But this one is new, a U.K. variant with an additional mutation. Because this case was not imported from another country, scientists believe cases could start appearing spontaneously in the U.S.

Florida’s usually excited about Spring Break, this time it’s just scared. Miami Beach’s Mayor says they’re very concerned because the county still averages more than 1,000 new cases a day and variants keep cropping up. Students from more than 200 schools are expected to head to the city this season.

First-stage testing of the experimental COVID-19 pill called Molnupiravir, by Merck, showed promising effectiveness. In fact, researchers said, "It may be the holy grail because it literally stopped the virus in its tracks." It would be an at-home, five-day treatment, similar to Tamiflu, and could be on the market in four to five months.

It often helps vaccination efforts when admired public figures get behind it. LeBron James won’t be one of them. Asked if he’d get the vaccine once it’s made available, James said "That's a conversation my family and I will have. And probably keep to a private thing." 

In the United States cases were down 11%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26.  

There are now 8,821,756 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Dallam, TX. Lyon, KY. Hartley, TX. Crowley, CO. Petersburg Borough, AK. Cimarron, OK. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Sherman, TX. La Salle, TX. And Coke, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, and South Carolina. 

There have been 524,987 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 99. New York 81. Virginia 77. Texas 75. Florida 63. Massachusetts 43. South Carolina 35. Louisiana 32. Pennsylvania 31. And Arkansas 22. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 24.3%, New Mexico at 24.2%, and South Dakota at 23.3%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 13.1%, Alabama at 14.4%, and Tennessee at 15%.

Globally, cases were up 7% and deaths down 7% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending flat since February 26.  

There are now 21,886,078 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 80,024. the United States 41,967. France 21,825. Italy 20,765. And India 18,691. 

There have now been 2,592,768 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 5th, 2021. 

On this podcast, we regularly give the states who have done the most and least vaccinating. But what about which countries are getting most of their populations vaccinated? When you look at the percentage of citizens who are fully vaccinated, meaning two doses, the top three are Serbia at 7.4%, Malta at 6.6%, and Iceland at 3.8%. The bottom three are Austria at 0%, Bulgaria at .6%, and Latvia at .9%.

Sixteen cases of a new variant first detected February 15th have been identified by Public Health England. It’s understood to have originated in the UK. There are now a total of four Variants Under Investigation and four Variants of Concern being tracked in the UK.

Not right away, but Alabama is following the lead of Texas and Mississippi with regard to mask mandates. The state plans to lift its ban April 9. But the Governor also extended Alabama’s health emergency proclamation for Covid-19 by 60 days and urged residents to keep wearing masks even if they aren’t mandated.

A government study shows too many people over 80 in England aren’t behaving. Two in five who’ve had a vaccine shot have since broken lockdown rules by meeting up with someone indoors when not permitted. They also did that within three weeks of getting a first dose, which is how long it takes for protection to build after a shot.

For those of you worried about our animal friends, eight great apes at the San Diego Zoo got two doses of an experimental vaccine developed just for animals. They were given the shots while being distracted with treats and so far, no negative side effects, beyond maybe trust issues. 

In the United States cases were down 17%, deaths are down 8%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since February 21.  

There are now 8,899,008 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Caldwell, KY. Crowley, CO. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Petersburg Borough, AK. Cimarron, OK. Sherman, TX. Concho, TX. Johnson, WY. And La Salle, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Arkansas. 

There have been 520,226 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.81%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 420. Texas 289. New York and Georgia 125. Florida 117. Arizona 96. Alabama 65. Pennsylvania 52. Illinois 49. And Massachusetts 43. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 23.3%, New Mexico at 22.5%, and South Dakota at 21.5%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 12.3%, Utah at 13.2%, and Alabama at 13.4%.

Globally, cases were up 1% and deaths down 19% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending flat since February 26.  

There are now 21,750,682 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 74,285. the United States 68,321. France 25,279. Italy 22,865. And India 16,824. 

There have now been 2,568,083 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 4th, 2021. 

A Census Bureau report says most small businesses in the U.S. aren’t requiring employees get tested or get a vaccine. 70% said “no" about testing, 78.4% said “no” about vaccinations. Only two sectors, health care and accommodations & food service had higher rates than the national average.

The CDC is expected to release guidance this week on what it’s safe for people who’ve been fully vaccinated to do. In short, don’t look for normalcy. Even the vaccinated are advised to stay masked and stay distant. What’s new is small gatherings in the home of fully vaccinated people should be okay.

Interpol says police in China and South Africa seized thousands of fake doses of vaccine, and that probably represents the “tip of the iceberg.” Authorities worldwide were warned to prepare for organized crime networks to deploy vaccine scams. Interpol is also getting reports of fake vaccine distribution targeting nursing homes.

New York lifted the quarantine and testing restrictions on domestic travelers who’ve been vaccinated within 90 days of their second inoculation. Beyond 90 days, travelers will still have to quarantine and test. International travelers must continue to quarantine 10 days as do the unvaccinated. 

Despite the certainty that it would be, the verdict is in and the Super Bowl was not a super-spreader event. Hillsborough County, FL health officials said official events resulted in 57 total cases out of thousands of fans at those events.

In the United States cases were down 19%, deaths are down 9%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since February 21.  

There are now 8,921,400 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Caldwell, KY. Cimarron, OK. Petersburg Borough, AK. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Concho, TX. Johnson, WY. Comanche, TX. Kane, UT. And La Salle, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Arkansas. 

There have been 518,326 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.81%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Virginia 383. Texas 266. California 259. Georgia 145. New York 142. Florida 131. New Jersey 128. Pennsylvania 81. North Carolina 75. And Massachusetts 70. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 23%, New Mexico at 22.1%, and South Dakota at 21.1%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 12.2%, Utah at 12.7%, and Alabama at 13.2%.

Globally, cases were up 1% and deaths down 18% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending flat since February 26.  

There are now 21,726,718 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 74,376. the United States 66,879. France 26,788. Italy 20,884. And India 17,425. 

There have now been 2,558,261 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 3rd, 2021.

You would think the pandemic is completely over. Texas and Mississippi are lifting their mask mandates. And doctors and big city leaders say they’re bracing for a deadly resurgence. Business occupancy limits are also being relaxed but businesses can choose to impose their own restrictions. North Dakota, Montana, and Iowa have also lifted mask orders in recent weeks.

Perhaps that optimism is coming from Washington. Messaging out of the White House is that the U.S. expects to take delivery of enough vaccine for all adults by the end of May — that’s two months earlier than anticipated.

Some are quite the opposite of optimistic. Infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm told MSNBC when non-vaccinated low and middle-income countries get infected, even more new strains will be created. He said the B117 variant was “at 1 or 2%” in early January and is already 20 to 30% of all found viruses. He estimates the U.S. is two and a half weeks away from crossing 50% when a hurricane of cases will begin.

An foreshadowing of that may be Italy. According to their health minister, the U.K. variant is prevalent among infected schoolchildren there and is fueling a “robust” uptick in contagion that is pervasive. Sure enough, 54% of cases in Italy involved that variant in a February measurement.

This may not feel right, but in Illinois, smokers are now a priority group eligible for the vaccine. Though self-imposed, it’s still a high-risk medical condition. And the CDC says about 15.5% of Illinois adults smoke. Compare that to Oregon, which has excluded smokers from qualifying to get the vaccine.

In the United States cases were down 21%, deaths are down 17%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since February 21. 

There are now 8,936,169 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Caldwell, KY. La Salle, TX. Petersburg Borough, AK. Concho, TX. Calhoun, TX. Johnson, WY. Cimarron, OK. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. And Kane, UT.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Arkansas.

There have been 516,476 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.8%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 293. Texas 275. Virginia 160. Florida 139. Georgia 104. New York 93. Arizona 81. Pennsylvania 68. Alabama 60. And Oklahoma 56.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 22.9%, New Mexico at 21.9%, and South Dakota at 21%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 12.1%, Utah at 12.2%, and Texas at 12.7%.

Globally, cases were up 2% and deaths down 21% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since February 21.  

There are now 21,623,570 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: Brazil 58,237. the United States 56,890. France 22,857. Italy 17,083. And India 15,704.

There have now been 2,547,493 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 2nd, 2021.

A senior World Health Organization official said it’s “premature” and “unrealistic” to think the pandemic will be over by the end of the year. Dr. Michael Ryan said the singular focus right now should be keeping transmission low. And if that can be done, at least the hospitalizations and deaths won’t be at tragic levels by the end of 2021.

California’s political leaders have reached a deal on requirements for reopening schools that could have more students back in class by the end of March. $2 billion would go to school districts and the deal would forgo conditions on collective bargaining with teachers’ unions and testing and vaccinations for staff that have been holding up an agreement.

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization is not recommending people 65 and older use the AstraZeneca vaccine. They say it’s because there’s not enough evidence of efficacy in that age group. But for those in other countries who have taken it, Health Canada points out there are no safety concerns.

Finland declared a state of emergency yesterday because of rising infections. That clears the way to close restaurants, shut schools, and limit movement between regions. The borders were already closed. The move was in response to new coronavirus variants.

Japan has asked China for a favor. Please stop doing anal swab tests on our citizens. The Japanese government says the procedure causes psychological pain. To collect test samples, well, we’ll spare you the details. But American diplomats have also reportedly experienced it and Washington also complained.

In the United States cases were down 26%, deaths are down 21%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending flat since February 21. 

There are now under 9 million active cases in the United States at 8,969,496. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: La Salle, TX. Caldwell, KY. Calhoun, TX. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Johnson, WY. Cimarron, OK. Concho, TX. Kane, UT. Petersburg Borough, AK. And Alleghany, VA.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware.

There have been 514,333 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.8%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 276. Virginia 231. Florida 150. New York 122. Texas 106. Georgia 81. Oklahoma 50. Ohio 48. North Carolina 42. And South Carolina 32.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 22.8%, New Mexico at 21.8%, and South Dakota at 20.8%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 12.1%, Utah at 12.2%, and Texas at 12.7%.

Globally, cases were flat, and deaths down 23% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since February 21.  

There are now 21,733,475 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 53,147. Brazil 38,349. Italy 13,114. Russia 11,571. And India 11,563.

There have now been 2,537,563 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 1st, 2021.

It’s approved and already on the way. Nearly 4 million doses, the entire stockpile, of Johnson & Johnson’s one dose vaccine shipped last night and are on their way to states for injections that could start tomorrow. Johnson & Johnson will deliver about 16 million more doses by the end of March and 100 million total by the end of June.

In the U.K., rising concern about a Brazil variant of the virus. Three cases found in England and three in Scotland. The Scottish residents had flown from Brazil by way of Paris and London. Officials are still trying to track down one of those who tested positive in England. The hope is existing vaccines can be rapidly adapted to fight the variant.

Anyone crossing the border between the Moselle region of France and Germany must have proof they tested negative in the previous 48 hours. 16,000 French workers cross that border every day. Germany says that area of France is a concern due to the spread of the South Africa variant of the virus.

We’ve been reporting in this podcast that Alaska’s a leader with regard to vaccinations. Now, in the remote island town of Sitka, things have been running so efficiently, they’re done seeing those at high risk and are now offering vaccines to everyone 16 and older. They’ll be among the first teens in the U.S. to get it.

More bad news for those with obesity. It’s already a comorbidity known to make serious cases and hospitalizations more likely. Now data suggests the Pfizer vaccine may not be as effective in this group of people. Italian researchers found healthcare workers with obesity produced about half the antibodies after a second dose compared to others.

In the United States cases were down 28%, deaths are down 22%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending up since February 21. 

There are now 9,035,262 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Caldwell, KY. La Salle, TX. Calhoun, TX. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Johnson, WY. Marengo, AL. Cimarron, OK. Concho, TX. Kane, UT. And Petersburg Borough, AK.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia.

There have been 513,091 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.8%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 234. Texas 187. Virginia 170. Florida 113. New York 107. Pennsylvania 75. Ohio 58. Massachusetts 51. Oklahoma 49. And South Carolina 32.  

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 22.3%, New Mexico at 21%, and South Dakota at 20.2%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 12.1%, Utah at 12.2%, and Texas at 12.4%.

Globally, cases were down 3%, and deaths down 23% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since February 21.  

There are now 21,901,615 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 49,412. Brazil 34,027. France 19,952. Italy 17,455. And India 15,616.

There have now been 2,530,004 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 26th, 2021.

Another mutated version of the coronavirus has popped up in New York City. It first appeared in the New York area in late November and has since shown up in neighboring states. City health officials and the Mayor are saying the new research is preliminary and not much is known about the variant.

Where did the flu go? February is usually the peak of flu season but this year it has virtually disappeared. Of course, experts say measures to fend off the coronavirus are the reason but still, there was a lot of talk and fear about a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19, which now does not appear likely to happen.

There was a time citizens in other countries were asking, “Why can’t we be more like Germany?” Now, not so much. With demand sky high, Germany actually has more than 1 million vaccine doses sitting unused in storage. The country has administered just 15% of the AstraZeneca vaccine it’s received. Blame is being placed on loss of trust in political leaders and incorrect press reports.

If two doses of vaccine are good, maybe three are even better. Pfizer is testing what results a third dose might bring. Two doses have already shown 95% effectiveness. The CEO says they believe the third dose will raise the antibody response 10 to 20-fold.  

When things are reported over and over, the public starts accepting it as truth, only to learn later maybe it wasn’t. A new study has found four main risk factors that account for two-thirds of hospitalizations - and neither age nor race are among them. The four factors are obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure.

In the United States cases were down 34%, deaths are down 16%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending up since February 21. 

There are now 9,096,024 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: La Salle, TX. Cimarron, OK. Calhoun, TX. Hartley, TX. Bent, CO. Marengo, AL. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Linn, KS. Sherman, TX. And Lexington, VA.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

There have been 508,114 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.79%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 384. Texas 313. Virginia 156. Georgia 135. Florida 131. Arizona 121. New York 112. Alabama 87. Ohio 82. Pennsylvania 77.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 21.3%, New Mexico at 19.4%, and South Dakota at 18.4%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Utah at 11.4%, and Tennessee and Georgia at 11.5%.

Globally, cases were down 15%, and deaths down 23% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since February 21.  

There are now 21,896,055 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 77,377. Brazil 67,878. France 25,403. Italy 19,886. India 16,568.

There have now been 2,506,344 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 25th, 2021.

A real-world test of Pfizer’s vaccine in more than half a million people in Israel confirms that even after one dose, it’s very effective at preventing serious illness or death. 92% effective at preventing severe disease after two shots and 62% after one. And it was equally effective in young people and those over 70.

The FDA is one step closer to authorizing Johnson & Johnson's one dose vaccine for emergency use. A panel meets tomorrow to make a recommendation. So far, the FDA’s review noted the vaccine to be 66% effective overall in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19 and it has a "favorable safety profile."

Many Covid survivors still wonder, can they get reinfected? A new study from a division of the National Institutes of Health suggests it is possible and it does happen, but it’s still quite rare. A positive antibody test can be associated with a lower risk of a second infection in the future, but it’s still unclear how long this lasts.

With all the positive news around the vaccines, you’d think more people would be embracing them. But Johns Hopkins research show the percentage of people globally who say they’ll get a vaccine has gone down in recent weeks. The average acceptance level across 23 countries is now 63%.

Okay, maybe you’re part of that 63% but you’re still not real sure when, where, or how you can get vaccinated. The CDC has launched a new online tool that might help. You should be able to search for vaccine providers with a supply of vaccine where you live. It’s not perfect. States and counties still have a mishmash of approaches, eligibility requirements, registration processes, and waitlist systems. But if you’d like to give it a try it’s at vaccinefinder.org.  

In the United States cases were down 37%, deaths are down 23%, and hospitalizations down 31% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has again started trending up since February 21. 

There are now 9,115,931 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: La Salle, TX. Cimarron, OK. Calhoun, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. Bent, CO. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Charlottesville, VA. Lexington, VA. Linn, KS. And Marengo, AL.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

There have been 505,803 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 312. Texas 311. Virginia 149. Georgia 137. Florida 130. New York 127. North Carolina 109. New Jersey 99. Pennsylvania 87. And Alabama 84.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 21.1%, New Mexico at 19.3%, and South Dakota at 18%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Utah at 11.1%, Tennessee at 11.2%, and Texas and Georgia at 11.4%.

Globally, cases were down 19%, and deaths down 25% over 14 days.

There are now 21,877,321 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 75,299. Brazil 65,387. France 31,519. India 17,106. And Italy 16,424.

There have now been 2,495,881 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 24th, 2021. 

AstraZeneca has told the European Union it expects to deliver less than half the vaccines it was contracted to supply in the second quarter. That puts the EU's target of vaccinating 70% of adults by summer in apparent jeopardy. The total supply could be about 130 million doses by the end of June, when the EU was supposed to have 300 million.

Researchers say a coronavirus variant that emerged in mid-2020 and became the dominant strain in California not only spreads more readily, it evades antibodies generated by vaccines or prior infection. And it’s associated with severe illness and death. Dr. Charles Chiu, who led the team at UCSF said, “The devil is already here.” He worries about a “nightmare scenario” in which the California and U.K. mutations merge.

Thoughts are trying to turn to travel. Britain plans to push G7 nations to agree on an internationally recognized system of vaccine passports. That doesn’t exist in England yet either, but they have set up a review into “COVID status certification” to explore ways people can prove they’re virus-free.

Even as Canada is focused on keeping international travelers out to protect it from the virus, a new study shows its own citizens fully intend on breaking pandemic rules during spring break. 63% are considering participating in activities like indoor gatherings, going on vacations, skiing at resorts outside their communities, and flying outside of Canada. 

Many Americans qualify to get the vaccine right now, but the reason is making many reluctant to do so. Comorbidities that qualify people for immediate vaccination includes obesity. Data shows COVID-19 outcomes are significantly worse for patients with obesity. And health leaders worry some people aren’t getting the vaccine out of fear of embarrassment or feelings they don’t deserve to be among the first in line.  

In the United States cases were down 40%, deaths are down 28%, and hospitalizations down 31% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases just ticked up for the first time since January 25th.  

There are now 9,170,205 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Cimarron, OK. Chattahoochee, GA. Lexington, VA. Bent, CO. Charlottesville, VA. Linn, KS. Sherman, TX. Clay, KS. And Pennington, MN. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and North Carolina. 

There have been 502,594 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 315. Texas 258. Virginia 172. Florida 157. Arizona 148. New York 125. Missouri 121. New Jersey 104. Ohio 100. And Pennsylvania 93. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 21%, New Mexico at 19.1%, and South Dakota at 17.9%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Utah at 11.1%, Tennessee at 11.2%, and Texas at 11.3%.

Globally, cases were down 19%, and deaths down 25% over 14 days. 

There are now 21,918,222 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 71,054. Brazil 63,090. France 20,064. India 13,463. And Italy 13,314. 

There have now been 2,484,988 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 23rd, 2021.

Remember when the concern about schools was that kids would transmit the virus? The CDC now says kids aren’t the problem, it’s teachers. 9 elementary school clusters were studied and in only one was a student the first documented case. The study lines up with others from the U.K. that found teacher-to-teacher was the most common type of school transmission there.

Cases are increasing in parts of India after months of a steady decline so, authorities are imposing lockdowns and other restrictions. Experts had been warning about returning to normal too soon if for no other reason than because nobody could reasonably explain why cases had dropped so much.

The FDA has taken steps to make sure drug makers can react quickly to emerging variants and modify their vaccines without extended clinical trials. Evidence so far suggests the vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer seem to offer good protection against new variants but the virus is continuing to mutate.

Long-haulers who’ve been disabled by COVID-19 want to know, when can we be classified as disabled and qualify for benefits? Advocates and lawmakers are calling on the Social Security Administration to at least study the issue. The criteria are strict and most applicants are denied. Then add to that the fact COVID-19 has scarcely existed as a recognized disease very long.  

Dr. Anthony Fauci just made a couple more statements about masks. First, he thinks we’ll be wearing them well into the year 2022. But second, he says you can probably go maskless in private households around family you don’t live with if you’re sure they’ve been vaccinated. He says you can probably even hug them.

In the United States cases were down 44%, deaths are down 32%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,199,577 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Virginia replaces Georgia at number 5.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Cimarron, OK. Chattahoochee, GA. Lexington, VA. Charlottesville, VA. Linn, KS. Bent, CO. Sherman, TX. Douglas, IL. And Marengo, AL.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

There have been 500,236 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 248. Florida 161. Virginia 155. New York 114. Texas 113. Georgia 91. Ohio 58. Illinois 40. Connecticut 39. And Iowa and Washington 38.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 20.8%, New Mexico at 18.8%, and South Dakota at 17.7%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Tennessee and Utah at 11.1%, and Texas and Georgia at 11.3%.

Globally, cases were down 20%, and deaths down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are now under 22 million active cases at 21,989,403.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 59,257. Brazil 29,357. Russia 12,604. India 10,792. And the U.K. 10,641.

There have now been 2,473,652 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 22nd, 2021.

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped a half a million Sunday according to NBC News. And while the death toll in the U.S. is the highest in the world, the country has less than 5% of the global population. A half a million people resembles the population of Atlanta or Sacramento.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson rolls out his roadmap for lifting restrictions in England today. All schools will reopen March 8 and two families or a group of six friends will be allowed to meet outdoors three weeks after that. He has, however, resisted calls to reopen pub beer gardens. That won’t happen until at least April.

In Germany, new infections rose again yesterday, which could easily interfere with planned easing of restrictions. Schools in 10 of Germany's 16 federal states are scheduled to reopen today. Experts blame the variants of the virus for the increased numbers.

This podcast has been reporting the Covid numbers that are made available. But the fact is, some countries have not been publishing data. Tanzania is one of them. That country’s President has declared it "coronavirus-free,” but the World Health Organization is urging them to report cases honestly and transparently, especially after the recent deaths of senior government officials.

If you wear glasses, you may not love the fact that you need them, but a new study out of India says that’s making it two to three times less likely you’ll get infected with the coronavirus. You hear a lot about masks but touching and rubbing the eyes is a significant route of infection. Researchers said we touch our own face an average 23 times an hour and our eyes three times an hour.

In the United States cases were down 44%, deaths are down 35%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,281,100 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Cimarron, OK. Lexington, VA. Chattahoochee, GA. Charlottesville, VA. Bent, CO. Linn, KS. Sherman, TX. Scott, TN. And Avoyelles, LA.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and North Carolina.

While other news outlets are reporting the number of deaths in the US reported as Covid-related has crossed over 500,000, as of this writing, Johns Hopkins is reporting the number to be 498,879, with a current national fatality rate of 1.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 207. Texas 137. Virginia 134. New York 101. Florida 93. South Carolina 68. Ohio 67. Massachusetts 47. Illinois 40. And Indiana 36.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 20.3%, New Mexico at 18.4%, and South Dakota at 17.3%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Tennessee at 11%, and Georgia and Utah at 11.1%.

Globally, cases were down 22%, and deaths down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 22,156,934 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 57,198. Brazil 29,026. France 22,046. India 13,980. And Italy 13,452.

There have now been 2,465,846 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 19th, 2021. 

Canadian researchers say a single dose of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are more than 92% effective in preventing COVID-19 illness after two weeks. And a separate study out of Israel suggests getting that second shot of Pfizer’s vaccine hikes efficacy only a couple of percentage points.

Pfizer is also starting clinical trials of its vaccine in pregnant women. That’s the first to include expectant mothers and participants will be from several countries. Women over 18 who are 24 to 34 weeks into their pregnancy will be eligible.

England’s running some tests too. It’s set to become the first country to intentionally infect healthy volunteers with COVID-19. It’s called a "human challenge study." 90 healthy volunteers will be exposed to further understand the virus’ effects. The hope is it will help identify the smallest amount of virus needed to cause infection, how the immune system reacts, and identify factors that affect transmission.

Providers in Pennsylvania have since early January been giving out second doses of the Moderna vaccine as first doses, and health officials are calling that a significant mistake. More than 100,000 people could be affected. Up to 60,000 may have to reschedule appointments, and up to 55,000 others might be delayed in getting their initial dose.

Thanks at least in part to Covid-19, life expectancy in the U.S. dropped one full year during the first half of 2020. Black Americans lost nearly three years and Hispanics, nearly two years. The CDC says you’d have to go back to World War II to find a decline like this.

In the United States cases were down 43%, deaths are down 34%, and hospitalizations down 30% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,314,794 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Scurry, TX. Scott, TN. Bent, CO. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Lexington, VA. Chattahoochee, GA. Stewart, GA. Crowley, CO. Hickman, TN. And Adair, IA.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. 

There’ve been a total 493,082 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.77%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 431. New York 219. Arizona 213. Florida 165. Texas 155. Missouri 146. Georgia 130. Ohio 101. North Carolina 96. And Pennsylvania 92. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 17.9%, New Mexico at 14.4%, and Connecticut at 14.3%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Rhode Island at 9.7%, and Georgia and Utah at 9.8%.

Globally, cases were down 28%, and deaths down 20% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 22,606,422 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 68,924. Brazil 51,350. France 22,501. Spain 14,515. And Italy 13,762. 

There have now been 2,441,084 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 18th, 2021.

Another group is apparently reluctant to get a Covid-19 vaccine. The military. By the thousands, U.S. service members are refusing or delaying vaccination and their commanders are trying to figure out how they can change that. Some Army units are seeing as few as one-third agree to the vaccine. They have discovered one possible motivator. Navy sailors who were being deployed last week were choosing to take the shot at rates exceeding 80% to 90%.

The UN is not happy with the vaccine rollout. The Secretary General has called the distribution “wildly uneven and unfair,” pointing out that just 10 countries have administered 75% of all vaccinations. He said, “At this critical moment, vaccine equity is the biggest moral test before the global community.”

A study out of NYU shows a mutation in the spike protein of the Covid-19 causing coronavirus makes it not only more infectious than the original, it makes it up to eight times more infectious. What’s known as the "G variant" likely emerged in early 2020 and is now the most prevalent and dominant form of the virus across the U.S. and many other countries.

Some bad news out of the White House, the U.S. government will only have a few million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine candidate in inventory by the end of February. The deal is for 100 million doses by the end of June. This is the vaccine that does not require a booster shot, but that’s estimated to be 66% effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. That’s a good bit lower than competitors from Pfizer and Moderna.

If you’re looking for a sunny outlook or rose-colored glasses, Dr. Anthony Fauci is not your guy. He said yesterday he sees the numbers dropping rapidly but there’s a good chance the variants will turn out to be “devastating.” He wants the masks and distancing to stay, and as for vaccines, Fauci says up to 80% of country will have to be vaccinated before we can start talking about herd immunity.

In the United States cases were down 43%, deaths are down 29%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,354,485 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Scurry, TX. Scott, TN. Bent, CO. Aleutians West Census Area, AK. Lexington, VA. Chattahoochee, GA. Van Buren, TN. Marion, TN. Stewart, GA. And Macon, TN.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

There’ve been a total 490,447 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 409. Pennsylvania 190. Florida 158. New Jersey 135. New York 122. North Carolina 108. Kansas 104. Georgia 99. Alabama 89. And Arizona 82.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, Alaska at 17.7%, New Mexico at 14.3%, and West Virginia at 14%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Rhode Island at 9.5%, and Georgia and Utah at 9.8%.

Globally, cases were down 28%, and deaths down 20% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 22,664,869 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 71,640. Brazil 57,295. France 25,108. Russia 12,828. And the U.K. 12,718.

There have now been 2,429,669 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide....  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 17th, 2021.

A paralyzing winter storm is creating all kinds of problems for vaccination efforts. Appointments had to be cancelled, deliveries were delayed, and mass vaccination sites couldn’t open. Snow, ice and bitter cold forced authorities to halt vaccinations from Pennsylvania to Illinois and from Tennessee to Missouri.

Two variants of the coronavirus have combined to form a heavily mutated hybrid. The hybrid was discovered at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and is apparently a combination of the U.K. strain and a variant that originated in California. Unlike regular mutation, recombinations like this can bring multiple mutations at once. Most of the time, they don’t give the virus any extra advantage, but occasionally they do.

However, a new study says the U.K. mutation by itself may be bad enough. Researchers have shown it is indeed 30 to 70% deadlier than previous virus strains, and that’s in addition to being more contagious, which we already knew. About 43 to 82% more transmissible. The CDC said the strain is spreading so fast it’s projected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. by March.

School bells are about to ring at elementary schools in Los Angeles County. In-person learning can start this week because health officials expect to reach the case threshold for reopening, which, by the way, is 25 per 100,000. Those opening have to prove safety measures are in place.

Getting safely back to your favorite bar might prove difficult. Researchers in Scotland have found customers and staff both fail to stick to even the simplest safety measures. And the more they drink, the less obedient they are about it. And there was only one instance in the study that staff even tried to enforce the rules.

In the United States cases were down 41%, deaths are down 22%, and hospitalizations down 29% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,401,811 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Scurry, TX. Bent, CO. Scott, TN. Van Buren, TN. Lexington, VA. San Saba, TX. Marion, TN. Stewart, GA. Macon, TN. And Jackson, TN.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Tennessee, New York, Rhode Island, and New Jersey.

There’ve been a total 487,926 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 379. Georgia 246. Florida 223. New York 147. North Carolina 61. Ohio 59. Texas 57. Massachusetts 50. Indiana 40. And Wisconsin 38.

The list of vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose did not update their report yesterday. We’ll have updated numbers tomorrow.

Globally, cases were down 28%, and deaths down 17% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 22,755,066 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 63,398. Brazil 55,271. France 19,590. Russia 13,233. And India 11,795.

There have now been 2,418,416 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 16th, 2021.

Welcome to Hotel Quarantine. Britain’s newly established quarantine hotels got their first guests yesterday. Passengers arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport from 33 high risk countries were escorted by security guards to buses that took them to the hotels, where they will have to stay 10 days at their own expense.

The World Health Organization yesterday listed AstraZeneca's vaccine for emergency use, increasing access to one of the more inexpensive vaccines to the developing world. The WHO's review found the Astrazeneca vaccine met the "must-have" criteria for safety, and its efficacy benefits outweighed its risks.

Brazil’s President, meanwhile, is seeking emergency use authorization for an Israeli-developed nasal spray against COVID-19. Israel’s Prime Minister has described it as a “miracle” treatment with nearly 100% effectiveness against serious COVID cases.

So what does happen if the mutations of the virus start getting around the vaccines as they exist today? The answer is, the vaccines will be tweaked. Regulators are looking at the flu as a blueprint to determine if and when shots need updating. The good news: Many of the COVID vaccines use a new, flexible technology that’s quite easy to upgrade.

FYI, if you get these symptoms after getting a vaccination, the CDC says you should be glad…because they’re a sign the vaccine is working. They are…pain at the injection site that lasts a little over a day. Fatigue, which means your immune system is doing its job. And a low-grade fever, anything below 100.4 is fine.

In the United States cases were down 39%, deaths are down 18%, and hospitalizations down 28% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,462,875 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Scurry, TX. Aleutians East Borough, AK. San Saba, TX. Bent, CO. Lexington, VA. Van Buren, TN. Scott, TN. Marion, TN. Macon, TN. And Jackson, TN.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, Tennessee, New Jersey, and Delaware.

There’ve been a total 486,317 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 155. New York 119. Connecticut 66. California 64. Texas 60. Georgia 57. Ohio 48. Illinois 45. South Carolina 36. And Massachusetts and Louisiana 33.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 17.3%, West Virginia at 13.8%, and New Mexico at 13.7%. The bottom 3 are Rhode Island at 9.2%, Utah at 9.6%, and Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia at 9.7%.

Globally, cases were down 29%, and deaths down 16% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 22,890,966 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 52,785. Brazil 32,197. Russia 14,207. Spain 11,942. And the U.K. 9,765.

There have now been 2,407,607 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 15th, 2021.

Average daily new cases in the U.S. dipped below 100,000 recently for the first time in months. The average dropped below 100,000 Friday for the first time since Nov. 4. and stayed below 100,000 Saturday. The CDC says the country is still at about 100,000 cases a day and around 1,500 to 3,500 deaths per day.

Speaking of the CDC, its director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said despite encouraging numbers, states should keep mask-wearing mandates in place. Governors in Montana and Iowa lifted statewide mask requirements this month. North Dakota’s mask mandate expired in January. And New York Governor Andrew Cuomo recently allowed indoor dining at 25% capacity.

One reason to not jump the gun are the various strains of the virus. And British scientists have reinforced in a new study the variant first detected in the U.K. is not only more contagious but more lethal, contributing to increased deaths in the country. Scientists earlier said there was a "realistic possibility" that was because of the new variant but now they say it’s "likely.”

Japan formally approved its first vaccine yesterday, the one from Pfizer, and said nationwide inoculations would start within days. That puts it months behind the U.S. and many other countries but still, a process that usually takes a year happened in two months. Medical workers are first in line.

Grumble if you like about slow vaccine rollouts, but UNICEF reminds us there are 130 countries that have yet to administer a single dose. That represents around 2.5 billion people, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. The result is they’re being forced in desperation to buy vaccines with lower levels of effectiveness against the original and new strains of the virus.

In the United States cases were down 37%, deaths are down 16%, and hospitalizations down 28% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,540,008 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Scurry, TX. Aleutians East Borough, AK. San Saba, TX. Bent, CO. Lexington, VA. Van Buren, TX. Scott, TN. Marion, TN. Macon, TN. And Jackson, TN.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.

There’ve been a total 485,332 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 200. Texas 129. New York 122. Florida 96. South Carolina 87. Massachusetts 60. North Carolina 38. Illinois 34. Tennessee 31. And Arizona and Oklahoma 30.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 16.7%, West Virginia at 13.5%, and New Mexico at 13.2%. The bottom 3 are Rhode Island at 9%, Idaho at 9.2%, and Tennessee and Georgia at 9.3%.

Globally, cases were down 28%, and deaths down 16% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,353,918 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 64,297. Brazil 23,258. France 16,546. Russia 14,185. And India 11,434.

There have now been 2,399,330 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 12th, 2021. 

It’s encouraging to report each day numbers of new and active cases going down but…it remains to be explained why that suddenly started happening in early January. Experts say it can’t be the vaccines or herd immunity, and there’s been no explosive burst in compliance with safety suggestions. Some say it’s tied to warmer weather but again, the freefall began in early January, and what about last summer when we were told warmer weather had no significant effect? Others say people obeyed rules during the holidays, but reports were that travel numbers and gatherings were very high. While they have no answer, experts do tend to agree that the rapidly dropping numbers run the risk of giving the public a false sense of security and threatens to roll back safety measure compliance.

The Associated Press reports more than 9,000 recovering coronavirus patients in New York state were released from hospitals into nursing homes early in the pandemic. It was a controversial order criticized for accelerating outbreaks. The new number is more than 40% higher than what the state health department previously reported. 

The U.S. has finalized deals to buy 200 million more vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna by the end of July. The goal is still to have all Americans inoculated by mid-summer. That’s on top of doses already scheduled for delivery that should bring the total supply to 300 million. 

Positive results around how some common drugs already on the market might be used to treat Covid-19. Oxford researchers say budesonide, a common asthma drug, reduced by 90% the need for urgent care or hospitalization compared to the usual treatment for virus patients. And the rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab appears to reduce the risk of death in hospitalized patients, especially when combined with the steroid dexamethasone. Pardon any mispronunciations there. 

In the United States cases were down 36%, deaths are down 22%, and hospitalizations down 27% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,584,499 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. San Saba, TX. Scurry, TX. Lexington, VA. Crowley, CO. Burleson, TX. Van Buren, TX. Jim Hogg, TX. Dimmit, TX. And Hall, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. 

There’ve been a total 475,291 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.73%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 496. Texas 386. Arizona 200. Florida 176. New York 167. Alabama 133. Illinois 116. North Carolina 113. Pennsylvania 108. And South Carolina 95.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 15.4%, West Virginia at 12.4%, and New Mexico at 12.3%. The bottom 3 are Missouri, Kansas, and Rhode Island at 8.3%.

Globally, cases were down 26%, and deaths down 14% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,438,521 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 103,481. Brazil 53,993. France 21,063. Spain 17,853. And Italy 15,146. 

There have now been 2,367,856 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 11th, 2021.

Updated guidance from the CDC. You usually should quarantine 1-2 weeks if you may have been exposed to see if you develop symptoms. Now the CDC says that’s not necessary for fully vaccinated people within 3 months of getting their last dose as long as they don’t have symptoms.

Apparently, you don’t just need to wear a mask, you need to wear two of them at the same time. U.S. government researchers found wearing one mask — surgical or cloth — blocked about 40% of particles. But when you wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask, about 80% were blocked.

Speaking of masks, they’re the subject of a big scam. The feds are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities, and government agencies.

Some great news about the Pfizer vaccine. Even those who become infected with the coronavirus before they get their second dose present a much lower risk of transmission. The vaccine appears to lower the viral load 4x for infections that happen 12 to 28 days after the first dose. That study has not yet been peer reviewed.

Get ready to get your heart warmed. Being a hospitalized Covid patient can be frightening, and lonely with no family allowed. In Massachusetts, Dr. Ben Moor figured since he’d gotten his second dose of the vaccine, he could just visit with patients outside of work hours. He now has 46 volunteers and growing doing the same. They still must wear layers of protective equipment, but patients are getting comforting human interaction.

In the United States cases were down 35%, deaths are down 20%, and hospitalizations down 26% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,586,691 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. San Saba, TX. Crowley, CO. Burleson, TX. Lexington, VA. Crockett, TX. McCormick, SC. Jeff Davis, TX. Hall, TX. And Cleveland, AR.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

There’ve been a total 471,377 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.73%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 478. Texas 348. Alabama 309. Arizona 176. New York 165. Florida 164. New Jersey 147. Pennsylvania 142. North Carolina 135. And Georgia 120.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 15.2%, West Virginia at 12.3%, and New Mexico at 12.1%. The bottom 3 are Kansas and Missouri at 8%, and Alabama and Rhode Island at 8.1%.

Globally, cases were down 26%, and deaths down 13% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,484,001 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 96,806. Brazil 60,271. France 25,387. Spain 18,114. And Russia 14,494.

There have now been 2,353,620 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 10th, 2021. 

As far as the World Health Organization is concerned, its verdict is in and they say the coronavirus is unlikely to have leaked from the Chinese lab in Wuhan. Their best assessment is that it spontaneously jumped to humans from an intermediary animal species.

Data from researchers in Israel suggests the Pfizer vaccine is indeed reducing viral load, a key signal it could diminish the transmission and spread of Covid-19. Accomplishing that is key to reducing the risk of more variants emerging and to achieving herd immunity.

The percentage of American adults who are willing to get the vaccine is going up, but that’s not to say there aren’t still problems. The number went from 39% in September to 49% in December. But younger adults, women, and Black Americans were among the most likely to say they will not be vaccinated. The most common concerns are side effects and lack of trust in the government.

The pandemic revealed a worldwide crisis in how we treat and care for our elderly, and the Vatican has taken note. A position paper has labeled it a massacre and is calling for a new paradigm of care. One thing it suggests is resisting institutionalizing the elderly as part of what the Pope calls today's “throwaway culture” that treats many people as nonessential.

There are safety measures, and then there are safety measures with teeth. Big ones. A new policy announced yesterday says anyone arriving in England and found to have lied about a recent visit to one of 33 countries on the travel ban list can face up to 10 years in prison.

In the United States cases were down 36%, deaths are down 12%, and hospitalizations down 26% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,680,957 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. Burleson, TX. Crowley, CO. San Saba, TX. Perry, AL. Oldham, TX. Cleveland, AR. McCormick, SC. Mills, TX. And Crockett, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. 

There’ve been a total 468,103 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.72%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 520. Texas 303. Arizona 231. Florida 230. New York 172. Georgia 171. Pennsylvania 157. Ohio 99. New Jersey 93. And Washington 85. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 15%, West Virginia at 12.2%, and New Mexico at 12%. The bottom 3 are Alabama at 7.7%, and Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Rhode Island at 8%.

Globally, cases were down 25%, and deaths down 11% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,595,795 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 95,542. Brazil 51,733. France 18,870. Spain 16,402. And Russia 15,019. 

There have now been 2,339,991 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 9th, 2021. 

The United States reported a 25% drop in new cases last week, the biggest fall since the pandemic started. In fact, new cases have now fallen four weeks in a row to the lowest level since early November, according to a Reuters analysis. The steepest drop was in California, where cases fell 48%. Only Oregon, Arkansas and Vermont saw cases rise. 

Updated statistics from Russia on coronavirus-linked deaths showed 162,429 people with COVID-19 died last year. That number is significantly far higher than previously reported. And the lower count is used in numbers released by the World Health Organization. December accounted for the highest number of Russian deaths since April. 

The number of COVID-19 patients in ICU in French hospitals reached its highest number in more than two months. And hospitalizations rose for the second straight day. France has not imposed a third national lockdown, hoping a curfew in place since Dec. 15 and a strong vaccine rollout would keep the virus in check.

Rep. Ron Wright of Texas died Sunday after having been hospitalized for Covid-19. That’s the first Covid-related death of a sitting U.S. Congressperson, however Wright had also been battling cancer. He was 67. He tested positive more than two weeks ago and said at the time his symptoms were minor and he felt okay.

Guess we should have listened when our dentists nagged us about flossing. A new study suggests Covid-19 patients with gum disease are nine times more likely to die with the virus. They were also 3.5 times more likely to be admitted to ICU and 4.5 times more likely to need a ventilator. The theory is inflammation in the mouth may open the door to the coronavirus becoming more violent.

In the United States cases were down 31%, deaths are down 8%, and hospitalizations down 26% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,711,640 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. Burleson, TX. Lincoln, CO. Crowley, CO. Cleveland, AR. Mills, TX. Crockett, TX. Oldham, TX. McCormick, SC. And San Saba, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Maine, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Arkansas. 

There’ve been a total 464,845 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.72%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 238. New York 150. Florida 119. Texas 100. Tennessee 97. Kansas 86. Connecticut 68. Indiana 58. Massachusetts 55. And Virginia 42. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 14.5%, West Virginia at 12.1%, and New Mexico at 11.7%. The bottom 3 are Iowa at 7.5%, Alabama at 7.7%, and Missouri 7.8%.

Globally, cases were down 23%, and deaths down 10% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,672,302 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 87,031. Brazil 25,661. Spain 19,305. Russia 15,916. And the U.K. 14,104. 

There have now been 2,324,794 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 8th, 2021.

The CDC says it has distributed 59.3 million doses of vaccines in the United States and 39 million of those have been administered as of Saturday morning. 30.2 million have gotten one or more doses, while 8.3 million have definitely gotten the second dose.

Scientists say U.S. health officials may be overlooking people who get reinfected. And that data’s important to understand immunity and what vaccination programs are effective. Scientists have confirmed reinfections are possible but dismiss them as rare. But not many labs keep testing samples or do genetic sequencing. In other words, reinfections aren’t being tracked.

South Africa has suspended plans to inoculate front-line health care workers with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. A small clinical trial suggested it’s not effective in preventing mild to moderate illness from the strain dominant in that country. The variant is currently accounting for more than 90% of cases.

In the U.S., the problem is the U.K. strain. It’s still at low levels overall but is doubling its reach about every 10 days, according to published research. Modeling by the CDC last month predicted the more contagious variant could be the dominant one in the U.S. by March.

One country that is not talking about vaccine passports is Britain. That country will not introduce such COVID-19 vaccine passports, but citizens will be able to get proof from their doctor if that’s needed for travel to other countries.

In the United States cases were down 31%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations down 25% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,782,082 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. Burleson, TX. Lincoln, CO. Crowley, CO. Crockett, TX. Mills, TX. San Saba, TX. Oldham, TX. McCormick, SC. And Cleveland, AR.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Maine, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Arkansas.

There’ve been a total 463,433 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.7%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 171. California 165. New York 152. Florida 97. Massachusetts 78. Pennsylvania 71. Indiana 65. Illinois 62. North Carolina 57. And Oklahoma 52.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 14.1%, West Virginia at 12%, and New Mexico at 11.5%. The bottom 3 are Iowa at 7.1%, Missouri at 7.3%, and Idaho and Kansas at 7.5%.

Globally, cases were down 24%, and deaths down 8% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,828,960 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 89,691. Brazil 26,845. France 19,715. Russia 16,048. And the U.K. 15,845.

There have now been 2,316,702 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 5th, 2021. 

Coronavirus deaths in the US are still at more than 3,000 a day, despite vaccines and falling infections. The new CDC director says deaths could ebb as early as next week. The biggest driver to the U.S. death toll over the past month has been California, averaging more than 500 a day.

Johnson & Johnson has officially asked U.S. regulators to clear the world’s first single-dose vaccine for use. Preliminary results show it to be safe and offer strong protection against moderate to severe COVID-19, but not as strong as two-dose competitors. The regulatory panel doesn’t even meet again until Feb. 26.

The situation in Mexico is being described as “desperate.” The country is running out of vaccines, a government registration website crashed for a third straight day, and restaurant workers are protesting being driven into poverty. Hospitals are over 80% full.

The CDC has found the pandemic disproportionately affects LGBTQ Americans. Why? More underlying health conditions, including higher rate of asthma, cancer, heart disease, kidney disease, and strokes. Black and Hispanic LGBTQ people are at an even higher risk.

The tournament’s director says the Australian Open will start Monday even though a worker at one of the Melbourne hotels used to quarantine players and their entourages tested positive. The government, however, has made it clear safety is paramount and there are “no guarantees.”

In the United States cases were down 30%, deaths are flat, and hospitalizations down 23% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,775,273 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. Dimmit, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. Zavala, TX. Lincoln, CO. Hitchcock, NE. San Saba, TX. Oldham, TX. Forest, PA. And Maverick, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Arizona, and Oklahoma. 

There’ve been a total 455,657 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.7%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 501. Texas 412. Florida 226. Arizona 176. Georgia and Tennessee 169. Alabama 162. New York 151. North Carolina 150. And Pennsylvania 130. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 13.4%, West Virginia at 10.9%, and New Mexico at 10.4%. The bottom 3 are Idaho at 6%, Missouri at 6.1%, and Iowa at 6.3%.

Globally, cases were down 22%, and deaths down 1% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,884,477 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 121,627. Brazil 57,848. Spain 29,960. France 23,448. And the U.K. 20,634. 

There have now been 2,281,608 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 4th, 2021. 

Who’s up for a vaccine cocktail? British scientists are starting a study to see if it's OK to mix and match vaccines. Guidelines say they aren't interchangeable but can be mixed if the same kind isn’t available for the second dose or if it’s not known what was given for the first shot. Which of course, sounds directly contradictory. This study aims to clarify things. 

China says it will provide 10 million doses to developing nations. The Foreign Ministry says China’s responding to a request from the World Health Organization as developing countries try to fill shortages predicted to last through March. No word on which vaccine they’re providing or if they’re donating it.

A new study from UK Biobank says people who have recovered from COVID-19 probably have high levels of antibodies for 6 months or more that should protect them from reinfection. No one will say for sure but it’s some reassurance reinfections won’t happen soon after recovery. And the findings are similar to other studies in the U.K. and Iceland in recent months.

The federal government will open its first mass vaccination sites in California. One will be the Oakland Coliseum where the Oakland A’s play and the other will be on campus at California State University, Los Angeles. Both are adjacent to communities hardest hit by the pandemic.

There was some doubt there would be an NFL season at all. So here at the end of it, how did the league’s Covid-19 protocols perform? Chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills announced the total positivity rate for the NFL this season was .08%. In fact, it’s felt that team facilities were among the safest possible locations for players and staff.

In the United States cases were down 30%, deaths are up 2%, and hospitalizations down 22% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,781,749 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Aleutians East Borough, AK. Chattahoochee, GA. Dimmit, TX. San Saba, TX. Lincoln, CO. Dallam, TX. Maverick, TX. Forest, PA. Hartley, TX. And Oldham, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, South Carolina, Arizona, Rhode Island, and New York. 

There’ve been a total 450,680 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.7%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 587. Texas 426. Alabama 309. Arizona 214. New York 209. Florida 198. North Carolina 169. Pennsylvania 147. Georgia 137. And Tennessee 133. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 13.3%, West Virginia at 10.8%, and New Mexico at 10.2%. The bottom 3 are Idaho and Missouri at 5.8%, and Iowa at 6.2%.

Globally, cases were down 21%, and deaths flat over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,851,469 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 113,459. Brazil 53,665. Spain 31,596. France 26,362. And the U.K. 19,202. 

There have now been 2,267,768 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 3rd, 2021. 

The U.S. government will start shipping vaccines to U.S. pharmacies next week in an attempt to ramp up vaccinations as new, possibly more serious virus strains threaten progress. About 6,500 pharmacies will get 1 million doses and more locations will be added as production allows. 

This podcast deals a lot with statistics, so here’s an interesting one. There are now more Americans who’ve been vaccinated than those who have contracted COVID-19. 26.5 million have gotten at least one dose and there have been 26.3 million documented cases since the pandemic began. 

However…you might want to take this into account. A new study from the National Institutes of Health found that almost 5% of Americans surveyed had undiagnosed Covid-19 last summer — meaning almost 17 million cases weren’t counted. Some researchers estimate 30-40% of cases are asymptomatic. 

New research on Americans out of the U.K.’s Imperial College London suggests the age group that might be fueling most new cases are people 35 to 49. The researchers concluded most infections originate from people from 20 to 49, but those 35 to 49 were responsible for 41.1% of new cases. 

If you’ve been worrying Pfizer isn’t making enough money from its vaccine, try not to. The company expects to generate $15 billion, about a fourth of its total revenue this year, from sales of its vaccine. They are working to ramp up production and expect a long-lasting need for the vaccine going forward. 

In the United States cases were down 29%, deaths are down 2%, and hospitalizations down 21% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,819,069 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Chattahoochee, GA. Dimmit, TX. Presidio, TX. Upton, TX. Hartley, TX. Maverick, TX. Zavala, TX. San Saba, TX. And Dallam, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Texas. 

There’ve been a total 446,746 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.69%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 487. Texas 371. Arizona 238. Georgia 208. Alabama 206. New York and Missouri 191. Tennessee 147. Florida 140. And Pennsylvania 121. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 13.2%, West Virginia at 10.8%, and New Mexico at 10.1%. The bottom 3 are Idaho at 5.6%, Missouri at 5.8%, and Iowa at 6.1%.

Globally, cases were down 21%, and deaths up 2% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,876,452 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 114,703. Brazil 56,240. Spain 29,064. France 23,337. And the U.K. 16,840. 

There have now been 2,251,944 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 2nd, 2021. 

January was the deadliest month yet of the outbreak in the U.S. However, cases and hospitalizations are plummeting, and vaccinations are picking up speed. 95,000 lives were lost in January and are running at about 3,150 per day on average.

The U.S. has agreed to spend $231.8 million with an Australian company to boost availability of the first at-home rapid test available without a prescription. The test can send results to a smartphone within 15 minutes of getting a sample. The FDA gave emergency authorization for it back in December after it showed 96% accuracy. 

The CDC says only a little more than a third of nursing home workers have been getting a vaccine the first time it’s offered. While 78% of residents got at least one shot, only 37.5% of staff did. Surveys suggest workers in these facilities are skeptical the shots work.

Australia is not hesitant to do lockdowns. About 2 million Australians started their first full day of a strict lockdown yesterday because one case was found in Perth. The lockdown will last at least five days.

So have you done it? Have you held your breath while walking by someone thinking that protects you from getting the virus? The answer is…it might. An aerosol expert at the University of Colorado Boulder says the risk of transmission when you pass someone on the street is already very low, especially in a mask. But holding your breath might help a little in rare circumstances. 

In the United States cases were down 32%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations down 19% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,827,632 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Chattahoochee, GA. Presidio, TX. Dimmit, TX. Upton, TX. Hartley, TX. Maverick, TX. Zavala, TX. Dallam, TX. Forest, PA. And Morgan, KY. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Texas. 

There’ve been a total 443,186 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.69%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 408. South Carolina 241. Florida 206. New York 178. Texas 107. Tennessee 103. Connecticut 73. Ohio and Louisiana 53. And Georgia 44. 

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 13%, West Virginia at 10.7%, and Connecticut and New Mexico at 9.8%. The bottom 3 are Idaho at 5.5%, Missouri at 5.6%, and Iowa at 6%.

Globally, cases were down 21%, and deaths up 2% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, the number of active cases dropped back down under 26 million at 25,948,562.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 125,454. Spain 25,867. Brazil 25,285. The U.K. 18,607. And Russia 17,648.

There have now been 2,236,559 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for February 1st, 2021.

AstraZeneca has agreed to supply 9 million additional doses of its vaccine to the European Union during the first quarter. The new target of 40 million doses by the end of March is still just half what the company originally aimed for before it announced a shortfall due to production problems.

New York City’s mayor acknowledged Black and Latino residents are getting vaccines at far lower rates than white or Asian residents. City health department data shows 48% of those who’ve gotten at least one vaccine dose are white. However, the numbers are incomplete because about 40% of those vaccinated in the city have not provided any demographic information.

China recorded more than 2,000 new domestic cases in January, that’s the highest monthly total since the tail end of the initial outbreak in Wuhan in March of last year. And that does not include another 435 infected who arrived from abroad. Two people have died in January, the first reported coronavirus deaths in China in several months.

Israel extended a national lockdown as new strains are offsetting its vaccination drive. While 24% of citizens have been vaccinated, a projected mid-January turnaround didn’t happen. Serious cases have surged among Israelis who have not yet been vaccinated.

If you get a card saying you’ve been vaccinated, maybe skip the cute selfie with it you were going to post on social media. The Better Business Bureau says these cards have personal information like name and birth date. And scammers can use these images to sell fake vaccine cards.

In the United States cases were down 33%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations down 18% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,911,107 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Chattahoochee, GA. Presidio, TX. Hitchcock, NE. Dimmit, TX. Upton, TX. Hartley, TX. Maverick, TX. Zavala, TX. Dallam, TX. And Culberson, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and New York.

There’ve been a total 441,319 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Iowa 250. California 226. Texas 179. New York 162. Alabama 122. Florida 120. Pennsylvania 113. Tennessee 76. Louisiana 58. And Ohio 54.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 12.5%, West Virginia at 10.7%, and Connecticut at 9.6%. The bottom 3 are Missouri at 5.1%, Idaho at 5.2%, and Kansas, Illinois, and Iowa at 5.8%.

Globally, cases were down 21%, and deaths up 4% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are now over 26 million active cases, at 26,154,213.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 107,816. Brazil 27,756. The U.K. 21,088. France 19,235. And Russia 18,359.

There have now been 2,227,074 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 29th, 2021.

New York’s Attorney General reported, and the Governor’s administration confirmed, thousands more nursing home residents died of COVID-19 than official tallies previously acknowledged. This after the state refused to divulge its true numbers for months. The Attorney General said long term care resident deaths weren’t counted as such if they happened in a hospital instead of on property.

Novavax said its vaccine appears 89% effective based on early findings, and it also seems to work — though not as well — against mutated strains of the virus. It performs well with the U.K. strain but not as well against the one from South Africa.

New federal data shows a dozen states are reporting drops of 25% or more in new cases. Since there remain complaints about vaccine not being available, that can’t be the reason for this sudden trend. So what is? Experts say it’s because people are more afraid of the virus and are following preventative guidelines more.

But is there a vaccine shortage? CDC data shows 16 states have actually used less than half of the vaccines that were distributed to them. Those states are Alabama, Wisconsin, Kansas, Hawaii, Arizona, Pennsylvania, California, Maryland, Minnesota, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and Ohio.

You don’t hear much about it, but work is still being done to roll out better coronavirus testing. In England, they’re using the LampORE test, which only requires a sample of saliva. Trials show it’s good at finding cases, even if the person being tested has no symptoms.

In the United States cases were down 34%, deaths are down 1%, and hospitalizations down 14% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th. 

There are now 9,824,711 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Chattahoochee, GA. Hitchcock, NE. Hemphill, TX. Winchester, VA. Presidio, TX. San Miguel, CO. Dimmit, TX. Culberson, TX. And Zavala, TX.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and Texas.

There’ve been a total 432,971 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 614. Texas 413. New York 237. South Carolina 230. Pennsylvania 220. Florida 200. Georgia 184. Arizona 176. Alabama 168. And North Carolina 131.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose are Alaska at 11.4%, West Virginia at 9.5%, and Connecticut at 8.5%. The bottom 3 are Missouri and Idaho at 4.5%, and Alabama at 4.7%

Globally, cases were down 22%, and deaths up 4% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,966,260 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 162,574. Brazil 60,301. Spain 34,899. The U.K. 28,680. And France 23,770.

There have now been 2,188,745 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 28th, 2021. 

In a sign the U.S. continues to believe ending all travel is a key to beating the virus, a senior CDC official says the U.S. is actively looking at expanding mandatory testing to travelers even on domestic flights traveling within the continental United States. Last week, the President told federal agencies to recommend additional measures to be imposed on domestic travel.

With many criticizing their country’s leaders for not handling the pandemic well enough, an Australian think tank ranked countries by crunching the data on confirmed deaths and testing rates. The country that did best was New Zealand, followed by Vietnam and Taiwan. The poorest performing country was Brazil, followed by Mexico and Colombia. China was excluded from the list because they did not make enough data available. 

Speaking of China, it definitely approaches things from…a different direction. Beijing has introduced anal swabs as a new type of coronavirus test it says detects the virus more accurately. There are even reports of surprise tests for some individuals like passengers arriving in Beijing and residents of quarantine centers.  

Will nursing homes be a permanent casualty of Covid-19? Research by the American Health Care Association shows about 90% of them are operating at a loss or less than 3% profit, and more than 65% said they’ll likely close within the year. Many already have. The result could be catastrophic on family caregivers as the 65+ population is the U.S.’s fastest growing demographic. 

Two positive Covid-19 cases of note: the President of Mexico has tested positive. The 67-year-old’s symptoms are mild and he's being treated. And American television host Michael Strahan has tested positive and is quarantining. He too is not currently experiencing any severe symptoms.

In the United States cases were down 33%, deaths are flat, and hospitalizations down 13% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 25th.  

There are now 9,783,927 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Chattahoochee, GA. Dimmit, TX. Hitchcock, NE. Hemphill, TX. San Miguel, CO. Val Verde, TX. Upton, TX. Presidio, TX. And Culberson, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, New York, and North Carolina. 

There’ve been a total 429,157 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 457. California 379. Alabama 276. Pennsylvania 220. Arizona 195. Florida 162. Georgia 161. Tennessee 154. New York 148. And North Carolina 139. 

Globally, cases were down 20%, and deaths up 8% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,925,920 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 151,727. Brazil 63,895. Spain 40,285. France 26,916. And the U.K. 25,308. 

There have now been 2,173,938 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 27th, 2021. 

The European Union has warned pharmaceutical companies that developed vaccines with money from the EU, the shots better come in on schedule. In fact, it threatened to impose export controls on vaccines made within its borders. Many of the 27 member states are struggling to get their vaccine rollout going.

Lots of eyes are turning to Johnson & Johnson, which says data on its vaccine should come out early next week. Theirs is a single-dose option which should simplify and speed inoculations. The company also says it anticipates being able to meet demand.  

The World Health Organization has new advice for treating COVID-19 patients, including long haulers with persistent symptoms after recovery. They advise using low-dose anti-coagulants to prevent blood clots, using a pulse oximeter at home to track oxygen levels, and that patients should be put into the awake prone position, on their front, which improves oxygen flow.

Several European countries are considering requiring masks be surgical or medical-grade respirators. These are typically called N95, KN95 or FFP2 masks. Governments say cloth masks aren’t subject to any standards. But in the U.S., the CDC actually discourages the public from using medical masks, saying they should be conserved for healthcare workers. It says cloth masks work, except now they suggest wearing two of them.

Two more people of note lost to Covid-19, the Defense Minister of Colombia has died at age 69. And longtime NBA reporter Sekou Smith, seen regularly on NBA TV, died at age 48. He covered basketball for more than 20 years and spent the last 11 with Turner Sports.

In the United States cases were down 31%, deaths down 3%, and hospitalizations down 11% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending up since January 24th.  

There are now 9,808,357 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Dimmit, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. Hitchcock, NE. San Miguel, CO. Hemphill, TX. Milam, TX. Culberson, TX. Uvalde, TX. And Winchester, VA. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and New York. 

There’ve been a total 425,062 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 728. Texas 332. Alabama 234. Florida 229. Pennsylvania 214. New York 210. Arizona 209. Tennessee 192. Georgia 179. And New Jersey 132. 

Globally, cases were down 20%, and deaths up 9% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,816,304 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 148,265. Brazil 63,626. Spain 36,435. France 22,086. And the U.K. 20,089. 

There have now been 2,155,052 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 26th, 2021.

Is it suddenly over? The Governor of California lifted stay-at-home orders across the state yesterday because coronavirus conditions are improving. Southern California still has an ICU capacity of 0%, but the Governor said the move is based on modeling for the next 4 weeks.

And we ask again, is it suddenly over? Dr. Anthony Fauci said yesterday cases and hospitalizations are dropping in most of the country. But why? He speculated it’s a natural plateau after the post-holiday surge and said it cannot likely be attributed to vaccines.

One major pharmaceutical company is giving up. Merck is abandoning two potential vaccines after early-stage studies delivered poor results. The company will focus instead on two possible treatments for the virus that also haven’t been approved by regulators yet.

Despite the concern they express for the public, many wealthy people are using a range of strategies to make sure they get the vaccine first. In Hollywood, they’re using private and concierge health services, and, until it was banned, private flights to Florida to get vaccinated. Doctors in Beverly Hills say they’re getting five-figure bribes. And there are reports of people getting temporarily fake-hired in the healthcare industry so they can get their shots.

They’re considered essential but Americans are being warned to stay out of supermarkets. New research shows a clear link between COVID-19 exposure and grocery stores. One study found that’s the most frequent location people visited prior to testing positive. The CDC advises everyone order groceries online for home delivery or pickup.

In the United States cases were down 33%, deaths down 5%, and hospitalizations down 9% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th. 

There are now 9,812,845 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Dimmit, TX. Chattahoochee, GA. San Miguel, CO. Hemphill, TX. Hitchcock, NE. Zavala, TX. Uvalde, TX. Val Verde, TX. And Milam, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and New York.

There’ve been a total 420,963 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 410. New York 217. Florida 153. Texas 135. Tennessee 111. Connecticut 92. Illinois 64. Ohio 57. Pennsylvania 56. And Georgia 53.

Globally, cases were down 20%, and deaths up 8% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,838,818 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 152,244. Spain 38,682. Brazil 28,364. The U.K. 22,195. And Russia 19,290.

There have now been 2,139,183 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 25th, 2021. 

While the coronavirus and its variants are all over the world, increasingly, world governments appear convinced that keeping each other out is part of the answer. The U.S. is banning non-U.S. citizens coming from South Africa, Brazil, the U.K., Ireland and 26 countries in Europe. Israel is banning all incoming and outgoing passenger flights until the end of January.

Mexico is set to surpass 150,000 deaths from COVID-19, one of the world's highest death tolls. Its death count is closing the gap with India, a country whose population is several times larger. And Mexico’s President announced he has tested positive, though his symptoms are mild.

Taiwan will more than double the number of people who have to quarantine at home for 14 days to more than 5,000. It’s trying to contain a domestic cluster of COVID-19 connected to a hospital. Overall, Taiwan has done exceptionally well. It currently only has 95 active cases being treated in hospital.

Not so in the United States. An Associated Press analysis shows more than 40% of Americans now live in areas running out of ICU space, with only 15% of beds still available. Hospitalizations are still particularly high in the West and South, with over 80,000 COVID-19 patients in those regions. 

Amidst talk of requiring a vaccination passport to travel, England’s deputy chief medical officer says even if you’ve been vaccinated, you can you still pass the coronavirus on to other people. His point is being vaccinated does not free anyone from lockdown, distance, and masking restrictions. 

In the United States cases were down 34%, deaths down 4%, and hospitalizations down 7% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th.  

There are now 9,862,996 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Dimmit, TX. Montour, PA. Chattahoochee, GA. San Miguel, CO. Hemphill, TX. Petersburg, VA. Zavala, TX. Richmond, VA. And Hopewell, VA. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, South Carolina, Rhode Island, California, and New York. 

There’ve been a total 419,204 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 298. Texas 222. New York 176. Florida 126. North Carolina 109. Pennsylvania and Louisiana 82. Massachusetts 69. And Arizona and South Carolina 68. 

Globally, cases were down 17%, and deaths up 9% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,886,055 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 135,182. The U.K. 30,004. Brazil 28,346. Russia 21,127. And Mexico 20,057. 

There have now been 2,128,721 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 22nd, 2021. 

New policies going into effect in the U.S. The administration is asking Americans to wear masks for 100 days and a separate order will go out mandating masks on airplanes, trains, and other public transportation. Plus, all travelers coming from abroad—U.S. citizens and permanent residents included—must quarantine after international travel for 10 days on arrival. 

Public health experts say the U.S. government tried to get states to vastly expand their efforts to get the nation’s estimated 54 million people 65 and over vaccinated…and that was a bad thing. State and local officials continue to say there’s not enough to meet that demand.

Researchers warned the third lockdown appears to be having little impact on rates of COVID-19 in England, saying there’s “no evidence of decline” in the first 10 days of renewed restrictions. The current lockdown began Jan. 5 with bars, restaurants, most schools, and most shops closed.

China is racing to build a massive quarantine camp capable of housing more than 4,000 people after an outbreak of Covid-19 this month. A sudden rise in cases has alarmed officials and raised concerns ahead of the Lunar New Year when hundreds of millions are expected to travel to visit family. Construction began January 13th and the first section is already usable.

Another likely casualty of the pandemic, the Olympics. Japan’s government has privately concluded the Tokyo Olympics will have to be canceled. And that seems to be okay with Japanese citizens, 80% of whom don’t want the Games there, fearing an influx of foreign athletes will spread the virus further.

In the United States cases were down 16%, deaths up 14%, and hospitalizations were down 2% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th.  

There are now 9,674,810 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York overtakes Florida, Arizona, and Georgia. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Webb, TX. Montour, PA. Forest, PA. La Salle, TX. Morgan, KY. Jim Hogg, TX. Richmond, VA. Mills, TX. Hyde, NC. And Hall, TX. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, Arizona, South Carolina, West Virginia, and California. 

There’ve been a total 410,102 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 740. Texas 463. Pennsylvania 246. Arizona 244. New York 228. Michigan 163. Florida 161. North Carolina 139. Illinois 138. And Tennessee 128. 

Globally, cases were down 1%, and deaths up 23% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are 25,522,371 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 193,758. Brazil 59,946. Spain 44,357. The U.K. 37,892. And France 22,848. 

There have now been 2,088,783 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 21st, 2021.

Several states continue to report they’re running out of vaccine. Tens of thousands who got appointments for the first dose are having those appointments canceled. New shipments go out every week, and both the government and the drug manufacturers have said there are large quantities in the pipeline.

Various countries are experiencing surges in new cases, but none more so than Portugal. It has the highest 7-day average rate in the world of new cases per 100,000 and the second-highest rate of new deaths. Health experts predict it will peak next week.

In the good news column, a new study from Israel's Sheba Medical Center suggests the Pfizer vaccine does, in fact, reduce transmission. After dose #2, subjects had significantly higher levels of antibodies than even those who recovered from severe COVID-19 infections. It’s preliminary but suggests fully vaccinated people won't shed the virus, meaning pass it on to others.

Germany’s leadership says they may have to close its borders if other European countries don’t take steps to stop the spread of the coronavirus, especially the more transmissible strains. Germany shares borders with nine countries.

If you were planning a fun trip to sunny Florida to get vaccinated, you may want to reconsider. That state will soon require proof of residency for people getting vaccines. That means a Florida ID or utility bill. When vaccines were opened to anyone 65 and older, it created both long lines and an influx of vaccination tourism.

In the United States cases were down 11%, deaths up 12%, and hospitalizations were flat over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th. 

There are now 9,614,365 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Montour, PA. Morgan, KY. La Salle, TX. Hall, TX. Webb, TX. Richmond, VA. Oldham, KY. Jim Hogg, TX. And Roger Mills, OK.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, Arizona, West Virginia, California, and South Carolina.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Hawaii, Washington, and Arizona. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois.

There’ve been a total 406,001 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.66%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 590. Texas 440. Pennsylvania 405. Arizona 262. New York 240. Georgia 196. Missouri and Alabama 157. Florida 142. And New Jersey 136.

Globally, cases were up 1%, and deaths up 20% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,374,640 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 188,426. Brazil 64,126. Spain 41,576. The U.K. 38,905. And France 26,784.

There have now been 2,073,866 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 20th, 2021.

The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has now surpassed 400,000. And more than 100,000 Americans have died in the past five weeks alone. In the U.S., someone now dies from COVID-19 every 26 seconds and it’s claiming more lives weekly than any other condition, including heart disease and cancer.

In Los Angeles County, an environmental regulator has temporarily relaxed limits on the number of cremations that can be performed each month. The reason…too many deaths have created a backlog. Crematoriums are typically restricted based on potential air quality impact.

Israel’s coronavirus tsar warned one dose of the Pfizer vaccine may be providing less protection than originally hoped and also lower than Pfizer had suggested. However, those who had their second dose had a six- to 12-fold increase in antibodies.

Germany is extending its pandemic restrictions, including the closure of schools and non-essential stores, until mid-February. It’s believed new mutations of the coronavirus could trigger a fresh surge. Also, people are required to wear the more effective FFP2 or KN95 masks on public transport and in stores.

The supermarket chain Aldi will incentivize U.S. employees to get a vaccine, up to four hours of pay just for rolling up their sleeves. It will also cover associated costs and implement on-site clinics at its warehouse and office locations. Dollar General and Instacart are also paying workers to get the shots.

In the United States cases were down 7%, deaths up 21%, and hospitalizations up 2% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th. 

There are now 9,608,626 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Forest, PA. Morgan, KY. Montour, PA. Hall, TX. La Salle, TX. Webb, TX. Oldham, KY. Foard, TX. Weston, WY. And Hyde, NC. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Hawaii, Washington, and Oklahoma. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois.

There’ve been a total 401,586 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 651. Texas 332. Georgia 222. New York 216. Florida 167. Indiana 126. Pennsylvania 75. Louisiana 71. Virginia 59. And Ohio 56.

Globally, cases were up 5%, and deaths up 21% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,285,726 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 171,525. Brazil 63,504. Spain 34,291. The U.K. 33,355. And France 23,608.

There have now been 2,054,560 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 19th, 2021.

The CDC and FDA are investigating a particular lot of Moderna’s vaccine after California paused distribution after fewer than 10 recipients at a clinic in San Diego experienced severe allergic reactions and required medical attention within 24 hours of being vaccinated. The lot in question included more than 330,000 doses distributed to 287 providers statewide.

They get released, but are they better? A study shows nearly a third of people discharged from hospitals in England after being treated for Covid-19 were readmitted within five months – and almost one in eight died. The study also found a higher risk of problems developing in a range of organs after hospital discharge in those under 70 and ethnic minorities.

The CDC is making it mandatory starting January 26 that all air travelers entering the US have proof of a negative test taken within three days of their flight. The burden will be placed on airlines to verify passengers’ test results.

An independent panel has said Chinese officials could have applied public health measures more forcefully a year ago to curb Covid-19 and criticized the World Health Organization for delays in declaring an international emergency. The experts doing the review called for reforms to the World Health Organization.

It looks like Starbucks is going to help its home state of Washington streamline the logistics of its vaccination efforts. No, that does not mean you can get a vaccine with your latte at Starbucks. But the company has assigned 11 employees with expertise in labor and deployment, operations, and research and development to work full time on the rollout.

In the United States cases were up 3%, deaths up 26%, and hospitalizations up 3% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th. 

There are now 9,666,071 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Montour, PA. Morgan, KY. Hall, TX. Forest, PA. La Salle, TX. Webb, TX. Val Verde, TX. Hyde, NC. Foard, TX. And Weston, WY.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, Rhode Island, California, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Virginia, and Kentucky. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois.

There’ve been a total 398,977 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: New York 160. California 146. Florida 136. Pennsylvania 102. Texas 94. Ohio 80. Connecticut 76. Illinois 68. Georgia 64. And Massachusetts 53.

Globally, cases were up 10%, and deaths up 23% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11. 

Globally, there are 25,329,527 active cases.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 142,022. The U.K. 37,535. Spain 33,800. Brazil 24,139. And Russia 22,857.

There have now been 2,039,283 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 18th, 2021.

It’s good to have a goal. The U.K. government plans to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to every adult by September. That’s some 51 million people. They’ll soon start a trial of round the clock injections at some locations as it adds more sites to sites like the historic Salisbury Cathedral, where injections are accompanied by organ music.

But how much faith do Brits have in NHS? Polls show public confidence in its ability to manage the pandemic has fallen to its lowest level since the outbreak began. Only 60% think it can care properly for those with Covid-19. The proportion who aren’t confident has risen to 35%.

Eyes are on Israel as that country has vaccinated at least 25% of its population so far. That makes it the best place to see if any level of herd immunity results. Infectious disease expert David Fishman says the case rate there appears to have declined sharply, but more studies need to be done on if the vaccine is the direct cause.

Business Today reports scientists working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab confessed that Covid-19 infected bats bit them while they were collecting samples in a cave. One researcher said one bat's fangs went through his rubber gloves like a needle. A World Health Organization team is in China now investigating the virus’ origins.

Infamous music producer, Phil Spector has died from Covid-related complications in prison where he was serving 19 years to life for murder. Sources say he was diagnosed 4 weeks ago, was moved to a hospital, but sent back to prison where he later relapsed. Among groups he produced, The Righteous Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, The Beatles and John Lennon. He was 81.

In the United States cases were up 9%, deaths up 27%, and hospitalizations up 5% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th.  

There are now 9,646,497 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Hall, TX. Forest, PA. La Salle, TX. Montour, PA. Hyde, NC. Webb, TX. Val Verde, TX. Randolph, WV. And Foard, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, California, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Hawaii, and Kentucky. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are West Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana.

There’ve been a total 397,561 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 209. New York 204. California 201. Florida 132. South Carolina 129. Louisiana 123. Pennsylvania 121. Massachusetts 69. North Carolina 67. And Ohio 65.

Globally, cases were up 14%, and deaths up 22% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.  

Globally, there are now over 25 million active cases, at 25,273,346.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 174,560. The U.K. 38,598. Brazil 31,394. Russia 23,586. And Mexico 20,523.

There have now been over 2 million deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide, at 2,029,938.

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 15th, 2021.

About 17.3 million doses of vaccines have been distributed in the U.S., but only about 6 million people have gotten the first dose. West Virginia has the largest portion of its population vaccinated at 5.16%. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi has the lowest at 1.24%, closely followed by Alabama and Georgia at 1.28% each.

A rapid expansion of vaccinations to senior citizens is good news, right? But it’s also led to bottlenecks, system crashes, and anger. Mississippi's Health Department stopped taking new appointments the same day it started because of a “monumental surge” in requests. South Carolina ran out of appointment slots within hours. And phone lines are jammed beyond capacity in Georgia.

Microsoft, Oracle and healthcare companies Cigna and Mayo Clinic are part of a coalition pushing for digital records of those who get vaccinated. It’s called the Vaccination Credential Initiative and the idea is to let people get encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet of their choice. No smartphone? You’d get a paper QR code.

A mutated strain of the coronavirus thought to have originated in the United States has been discovered in Ohio. It appears to have become the dominant version of the virus spreading in Columbus. More study is needed but infectious disease experts expected more emerging new strains.

In Britain, critics are outraged at the altering of rules to allow coronavirus patients who’ve completed 14 days isolation without showing symptoms to move right into care homes from hospitals without being re-tested. It’s believed these individuals do not pose an infection risk.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Forest, PA. Jasper, TX. Barbour, WV. Tyler, TX. Henderson, TX. Montour, PA. Kinney, TX. Carter, OK. And Stonewall, TX. 

There are now 9,338,297 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado. 

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, Oklahoma, California, Rhode Island, and Utah.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Georgia, Wyoming, Arizona, and Arkansas. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are South Dakota, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Dakota, and Indiana.

There’ve been a total 388,529 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 639. Texas 415. Pennsylvania 288. New York 264. Florida 217. Alabama 185. Arizona 182. Michigan 175. Georgia 172. And Illinois 107. 

Globally, there are 24,717,818 active cases.

There were 751,664 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 785,681 January 8th.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 230,457. Brazil 68,656. The U.K. 48,682. Spain 35,878. And Russia 24,763.

There have now been 1,993,146 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 28% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 14th, 2021.

Coronavirus deaths in the U.S. hit another one-day high at over 4,300. The nation’s overall death toll is closing in fast on the number of Americans killed in World War II, which is about 407,000.

California is expanding who can get the vaccine, and it now includes residents 65 and older. The goal is to administer an additional 1 million doses by the end of the week. And to that end, 36,000 dentists were added to the pool of personnel allowed to administer the vaccines.

Speaking of California, Los Angeles County Health Services released a report showing approximately 1 in 3 people in that county has been infected since the start of the pandemic. That’s assuming though that not everyone who’s had the virus had a laboratory-confirmed case.

With vaccines in the market and teachers starting to get that vaccine, state leaders are increasingly pushing for schools to reopen. There is however still resistance from top education officials and reminders the U.S. is in the midst of the worst surge.

While there are some manufacturing issues, some good news about Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose vaccine. Trial data published yesterday shows it’s safe and appears to generate a promising immune response in both young and elderly volunteers. The trial showed one shot “gives sustainable antibodies.”

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Barbour, WV. Jasper, TX. Tyler, TX. Crane, TX. Hyde, NC. Stonewall, TX. Montour, PA. Carter, OK. And Osborne, KS.  

There are now 9,247,381 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Massachusetts, Arizona, Arkansas, Utah, and California.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Georgia, Wyoming, Hawaii, and Arizona. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are New Hampshire, Montana, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Idaho.

There’ve been a total 384,634 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 535. Texas 381. Pennsylvania 363. Arizona 191. Alabama 187. New York 168. Florida 166. Georgia 141. Tennessee 137. And Illinois 120.  

Globally, there are 24,493,130 active cases.

There were 699,567 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 785,681 January 8th.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 236,462. Brazil 61,822. The U.K. 47,525. Spain 38,869. And France 23,852.

There have now been 1,976,509 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 29% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 13th, 2021.

In the U.S., more vaccine is coming and coming faster. The government will base each state's allocation partly on how successful they’ve been at administering what was already provided. The government will stop holding back second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, practically doubling supply. And Washington is urging states to immediately start vaccinating groups further down the priority scale.

CDC officials also announced that in two weeks, anyone flying to the U.S. will need to show proof of a negative test for COVID-19. The new measures are to try to prevent travelers from bringing in newer forms of the virus and applies to U.S. citizens as well.

Initial data from Israel’s vaccination campaign shows Pfizer’s vaccine curbs infections by around 50% 14 days after the first of two shots is administered. Israel’s vaccination campaign is regarded as being among one of the most efficient so this could be the best and earliest indication of effectiveness.

Disneyland is reopening! But not as an amusement park, as a “super” vaccination site. It will be one of several such places where thousands daily will be able to get vaccinated. Other locations include Dodger Stadium, San Diego's Petco Park, and Sacramento's Cal Expo. Disney World in Florida, which is open, is also considering offering itself as a mass vaccination locale.

Research in England suggests nearly half of ICU staff are experiencing symptoms of PTSD, severe depression, or anxiety. And those finding were based off surveys after the first wave of the virus and since then there are now 50% more patients than in April. One in five ICU nurses even reported thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Jasper, TX. Barbour, WV. Tyler, TX. Crane, TX. Hyde, NC. Kinney, TX. Stonewall, TX. Newton, TX. And Sabine, TX.  

There are now 9,162,598 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Massachusetts, Arizona, Arkansas, Utah, and California.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Georgia, New Jersey, Arizona, and Oklahoma. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are New Hampshire, Tennessee, South Dakota, Maine, and West Virginia.

There’ve been a total 380,555 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 604. Arizona 335. Texas 305. Pennsylvania 229. Alabama 226. New York 208. Georgia 187. New Jersey 173. Florida 156. And Tennessee 146.

Globally, there are 24,217,506 active cases.

There were 625,815 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 785,681 January 8th.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 222,121. Brazil 61,804. The U.K. 45,533. Spain 25,438. And Russia 22,934.

There have now been 1,961,130 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 28% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 12th, 2021.

The United States lost more than 22,000 lives to COVID-19 last week, a record for the second week in a row. California had the most deaths at 3,315 in the week ended January 10, up 44% from the prior week. Arizona had the highest death rate per capita at 15 per 100,000 residents, followed by Rhode Island at 13 and West Virginia at 12 deaths per 100,000.

The World Health Organization’s chief scientist said you can pretty much forget herd immunity this year, even with vaccines rolling out. The advice is to maintain strict social distancing and other outbreak control measures for the foreseeable future.

An international trial testing convalescent blood plasma on COVID-19 patients has stopped enrolling severely ill patients requiring intensive care because it found the treatment had no benefit. Tests are still being done on the moderately ill.

Just who is it that doesn’t want the vaccine? Research appearing in the journal Social Science & Medicine found that Black people were 41% less likely to pursue vaccination, and women were 71% more likely to pass on the vaccine. The study’s authors say that second statistic is frightening because women make 80% of healthcare decisions for their entire families.

Several gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park have tested positive. It’s the first known cases among great apes in the United States and maybe the world. Eight gorillas that live together at the park are believed to have the virus and several have been coughing.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Jasper, TX. Tyler, TX. Barbour, WV. Kinney, TX. Crane, TX. Stonewall, TX. Hyde, NC. Newton, TX. And Sabine, TX.  

There are now 9,077,487 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are West Virginia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Utah.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Georgia, New Jersey, Kentucky, and Wisconsin. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Montana, Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee, and South Dakota.

There’ve been a total 376,051 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.68%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 385. New York 216. Florida 155. Texas 111. Connecticut 92. Pennsylvania 90. Kansas 88. Tennessee 80. Ohio 75. And Illinois 70.

Globally, there are 24,074,087 active cases.

There were 599,447 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 785,681 on January 8th.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 214,683. The U.K. 46,169. Brazil 28,043. Spain 24,631. And Russia 23,315.

There have now been 1,943,943 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 28% over 14 days.  

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New research suggests Pfizer’s vaccine can indeed protect against two easier-to-spread variants of the coronavirus that erupted in the U.K. and South Africa. What makes it more contagious is a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus. But most vaccines train the body to recognize that spike and fight it.

Don’t like shots? How about a nasal spray? The first UK clinical trials of a nasal spray proven to kill 99.9% of the coronavirus start today. The spray is designed to kill the virus in the upper airways of the nose so it can’t incubate and spread to the lungs.

The Bay Area has extended its stay-at-home order indefinitely as ICU capacity remains extremely low and new cases surge. The order was meant to expire Friday, but ICU capacity is at 13.7% and dropping.

Believe it or not, there are hospitals, health centers and pharmacies where vials of vaccine are being thrown away. The President of the Institute for Family Health said, "We all thought the real problem was going to be a shortage.” Last week, nurses in Harlem literally roamed the neighborhood looking for people eligible to get a vaccine because the health care workers they were supposed to go to skipped their appointments.

The U.K. was not kidding when they said they would enforce lockdown restrictions. A video surfaced showing no less than four police officers handcuffing a woman and taking her away for sitting on a bench outside. A statement said there is no specific rule on the number of warnings officers should give before taking action.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Jasper, TX. Tyler, TX. Barbour, WV. Braxton, WV. Kinney, TX. Stonewall, TX. Crane, TX. Southampton, VA. And Bethel Census Area, AK.

There are now over 9 million active cases in the United States at 9,050,569. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Texas overtakes Virginia, then Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are West Virginia, Arizona, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Utah.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Georgia, Washington, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and New Jersey. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are South Dakota, Michigan, West Virginia, Alaska, and Colorado.

There’ve been a total 374,072 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.69%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 283. Texas 157. New York 145. North Carolina 142. Florida 106. Arizona 105. Pennsylvania 95. Illinois 83. Tennessee 81. And Massachusetts 77.

Globally, there are 23,935,269 active cases.

There were 725,999 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 785,681 January 8th.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 213,453. The U.K. 54,940. Brazil 29,792. Russia 22,851. And Italy 18,627.

There have now been 1,934,096 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 27% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 8th, 2021.

The U.S. registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before — nearly 3,900. The virus is surging in several states, with California hit particularly hard, reporting yesterday a record two-day total of 1,042 deaths. December was by far the deadliest month yet, and experts expect January to be worse due to holiday gatherings.

For Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a “tipping point” in the fight as cases surge and new mutations spread. Currently, more than 230 million people are living in countries that are under full national lockdown, with more governments expected to announce lockdowns in the next week.

It’s quickly becoming a treasured commodity. Oxygen. In Los Angeles the systems and equipment needed to deliver it are wobbling. Paramedics have been told to conserve it. And some hospitals can’t release patients because they don’t have the oxygen equipment to send home with them.

Some good news. Two more life-saving drugs have been found that can cut deaths by a fourth in patients sickest with Covid. They’re anti-inflammatories given with an IV drip. Supplies are generally readily available and can be used immediately. U.K. researchers say the treatments speed recovery and reduce how long critically ill patients spend in ICU by about a week.

Police in Britain say in this new lockdown they will fine citizens the very first time they’re caught without a mask. Also, anyone leaving home without an acceptable excuse will face the same zero-tolerance approach and police will be accepting far fewer excuses.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bethel Census Area, AK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Braxton, WV. Bent, CO. Crane, TX. Rooks, KS. Montour, PA. Hyde, NC. Anderson, TX. And Jim Hogg, TX.

There are now 8,614,604 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are West Virginia, Arizona, Massachusetts, California, and Tennessee.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Georgia, Iowa, Virginia, Louisiana, and New York. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Oregon, Oklahoma, Alaska, Nevada, and South Dakota.

There’ve been a total 365,174 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.70%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 488. Texas 367. Arizona 297. New York 261. Pennsylvania 254. Illinois and Michigan 206. Florida 159. North Carolina 137. And Tennessee 111.

Globally, there are 23,982,484 active cases.

There were 785,681 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours and that is a new all-time record.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 274,190. Brazil 87,134. The U.K. 52,618. Germany 28,078. And Russia 23,541.

There have now been 1,897,568 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 7th, 2021. 

The CDC says it’s carefully monitoring the rising number of allergic reactions to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. They say if you did have a serious reaction, do not get the second dose. Reactions are occurring at a rate of 11.1 per million vaccinations compared to only 1.3 per million with flu shots.

The worst-case scenario forecast by experts appears to be happening. The U.S. set a new record for hospitalizations Wednesday as it averaged 219,684 new cases a day in the past week. The new variant of the virus is showing up in more and more states. Some predict an additional 10 million infections in the U.S. between now and end of February.

Vaccine distribution problems may lead to good news for you. The HHS Secretary is advising states if doses will otherwise just sit around in freezers, they can go ahead and vaccinate lower-priority groups. About 17.3 million doses have gone out to states, but only 5.3 million have been administered.

CBS News reports Houston Methodist Hospital is giving $500 to employees if they take both doses of a vaccine. It’s being called a thank you bonus for their hard work during the pandemic but…getting the vaccine is a requirement to get the money. Since December 15 about 55% of the employees have gotten the first dose. 

Remember when finding a Covid-19 test was difficult? Students at the UC San Diego campus are required to test weekly, so nearly a dozen Covid test vending machines have been set up around campus. Tests are free and self-administered with drop boxes at each machine.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bethel Census Area, AK. Bent, CO. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Braxton, WV. Rooks, KS. Montour, PA. Hall, TX. Hyde, NC. Cottle, TX. And Perry, IL. 

There are now 8,463,484 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are West Virginia, New Jersey, California, and Tennessee. 

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Iowa, New York, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Oklahoma, Oregon, Alaska, Wisconsin, and Michigan. 

There’ve been a total 360,999 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.71%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 562. Pennsylvania 373. Texas 329. Illinois 173. New York 170. Florida 132. Kansas 130. Arizona 127. New Jersey 124. And Ohio 121. 

Globally, there are 23,617,816 active cases.

There were 744,044 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11. 

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 260,973. Brazil 62,532. The U.K. 62,622. Germany 26,651. And France 25,379. 

There have now been 1,881,926 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 6th, 2021.

In Los Angeles, ambulances are backed up to admit new patients to hospitals for up to eight hours. Patients in ICUs have more than quadrupled since the first of November. EMTs have now been instructed not to bring people with little chance of survival into hospitals and to conserve oxygen in the field.

To figure out why England has gone into lockdown, consider that one in 50 people in private households there are estimated to have had the coronavirus in the week ending January 2. And that’s not counting people in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings.

Former FDA chief Dr. Scott Gottlieb warned the new South Africa mutation is concerning because it appears to inhibit antibody drugs. This ability to evade prior immunity means antibodies Covid survivors might have, as well as antibody drugs, may not be as effective.

Germany has extended that country’s current lockdown by three weeks until Jan. 31 and tightening curbs on social contacts. They’ve also called for new restrictions on movement for people in areas with high infection rates. And even though Israel’s being hailed for its effective vaccine rollout, it’s locking down a third time. It’s being blamed on the faster spreading U.K. strain of the virus.

The head of the World Health Organization is disappointed Chinese officials still have not finalized permission for a team of experts to go there and examine the origins of COVID-19. It’s a rare critique of Beijing by that organization and he made it clear this mission is a priority.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pershing, NV. Bethel Census Area, AK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Bent, CO. Montour, PA. Braxton, WV. Rooks, KS. Pecos, TX. Perry, IL. And Adams, IL.

There are now 8,350,770 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, West Virginia, Utah, Kansas, and New Jersey.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in New York, Florida, South Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wisconsin, Oregon, Michigan, Montana, and Minnesota.

There’ve been a total 357,156 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.71%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 433. Texas 277. Arizona 253. Michigan 217. Pennsylvania 187. New York 157. Illinois 150. Indiana 149. New Jersey 120. And Florida 110.

Globally, there are 23,425,674 active cases.

There were 570,738 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 225,558. The U.K. 60,916. Brazil 57,447. Russia 24,246. And France 20,489.

There have now been 1,867,585 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 5th, 2021.

Boris Johnson put the U.K. back into lockdown amid warnings NHS could fail to cope with soaring infection rates. England’s schools are closed, and people have been ordered to stay home. The goal is to get shots to 13.9 million at highest risk by mid-February. That’s when the restrictions can start easing. The lockdowns risk devastating businesses and another recession.

New York and Florida are getting ready to punish hospitals who aren’t distributing the vaccines they’ve been given. More than two-thirds of the 15 million vaccines shipped within the United States have so far gone unused. Punishments could include a fine and a reduction in future supplies.

A message from BioNTech and Pfizer about their vaccine…they have no evidence it will keep protecting against COVID-19 if the booster shot is given later than what was tested in trials. The booster is to be given three weeks after the prime shot. If it’s given later than that, as some countries like Germany, Denmark, and Britain are considering, the companies have no evidence of effectiveness.

In our podcast, we compare states with states and countries with countries. But Arizona currently not only leads every other state with the highest seven-day average of infections per capita, it alone leads every region in the world. And it’s the second time that’s happened.

There are many ways to distribute a vaccine. But Bulgaria might have one of the more unique among them. Transport by the manufacturers of the first doses wasn’t available and since the vaccine has to stay at a certain temperature, it was delivered by a hot dog truck. With a police escort.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pershing, NV. Bethel Census Area, AK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Bent, CO. Braxton, WV. Montour, PA. Rooks, KS. Pecos, TX. Lassen, CA. And Labette, KS.

There are now 8,254,416 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, West Virginia, Utah, Kansas, and New Jersey.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, New York, Florida, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wisconsin, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

There’ve been a total 353,388 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.72%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 362. New York 193. Tennessee 143. Florida 103. Texas 99. Illinois and Pennsylvania 90. Michigan 85. Connecticut 69. And Ohio 67.

Globally, there are 23,187,402 active cases.

There were 616,328 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 190,165. The U.K. 58,784. Russia 23,351. Brazil 20,814. And India 16,278.

There have now been 1,852,208 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 4th, 2021.

Coronavirus lets no good deed go unpunished. 44 staff members so far tested positive at Kaiser Permanente’s San Jose Medical Center. The hospital believes a fan on an "air-powered costume" may have spread droplets after a staffer briefly wore it in the ER Christmas Day. They were trying to lift the spirits of those having to work on Christmas.

The numbers are starting to come in and so far, the countries that are vaccinating fastest are Israel and the U.K. France and the Netherlands are among the slowest. In the U.S., the fastest vaccinators are North and South Dakota, while the five slowest are Kansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arizona.  

They’re doing a good job of vaccinating in the U.K., but England is reeling with infections. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned more onerous lockdown restrictions are likely. School closures, curfews, and a total ban on household mixing could be on the agenda. Meanwhile Japan is considering declaring a state of emergency for the Greater Tokyo area.

Canada is quite serious about its quarantine rules for travelers. Health Canada warned “violating any instructions is an offence under the Quarantine Act.” Failing to quarantine 14 days could result in “up to six months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines.”

Legendary cable news interviewer Larry King is among those hospitalized with Covid-19 and he’s been there more than a week. King is 87 and is at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. His family members have not been allowed to visit.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pershing, NV. Bent, CO. Montour, PA. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Bethel Census Area, AK. Rooks, KS. Lassen, CA. Pecos, TX. Labette, KS. And Chautauqua, KS.

There are now over 8 million active cases in the United States, at 8,316,492. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Georgia surpasses Virginia, then Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, Kansas, New Jersey, Utah, and Wisconsin.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Iowa, New York, Hawaii, and Maryland. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma.

There’ve been a total 351,453 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.73%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: New York 125. Illinois 114. Massachusetts 108. California 102. Florida 97. South Carolina 84. Indiana 65. Pennsylvania 61. Ohio 59. And Texas 57.

Globally, there are now over 23 million active cases, at 23,198,998.

There were 615,047 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 194,337. The U.K. 54,990. Russia 24,150. Brazil 17,341. And India 16,660.

There have now been 1,842,590 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 1st, 2021.

An error at a West Virginia clinic led to 42 people being given Covid-19 antibodies instead of the vaccine. State health officials do not think there’s a risk of harm. They said it was an isolated incident but could not explain how the mix-up happened. Distribution is being run by the National Guard.

A suburban Milwaukee pharmacist was arrested suspected of deliberately ruining hundreds of doses of vaccine by leaving them out of refrigeration for two nights. The pharmacist has been fired and is in jail awaiting formal charges. The destroyed doses were worth between $8,000 and $11,000.

A consensus is growing that the vaccination effort in America is slower and messier than anticipated. Overworked, underfunded state health departments are scrambling to patch together plans for administering vaccines. And differences in how counties and hospitals do that are generating long lines, confusion, and jammed phone lines.

Healthcare workers in Ohio are prioritized to get a vaccine but some don’t want anything to do with it. About 60% of nursing home staff have elected not to take it. Ohio’s governor said, “We’re not going to make them, but we wish we had a higher compliance. The train may not be coming back for a while.”

84-year-old Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. tested positive for Covid and was taken to a Georgia-area hospital when he could no longer stand. He was put in an area with other Covid patients, stayed two days, then left after being freaked out by the number of deaths around him. Staff begged him to stay, given his age and underlying conditions including cancer, but he’s now recovering at home. It’s said he’s not out of the woods yet by a long shot.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pershing, NV. Pleasants, WV. Glasscock, TX. Montour, PA. Bent, CO. Oldham, TX. Pecos, TX. Montgomery, IL. Audrain, MO. And Lassen, CA.

There are now 7,965,633 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Dakota, New Jersey, Arizona, California, and Wisconsin.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, New York, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

There’ve been a total 345,736 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.75%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 580. Texas 329. Pennsylvania 293. Illinois 167. Arizona 146. New York 139. Florida 125. Ohio 108. Indiana 103. And Tennessee 97.

Globally, there are 22,659,240 active cases.

There were 738,477 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 228,413. Brazil 56,003. The U.K. 55,892. Russia 27,747. And Italy 23,477.

There have now been 1,817,531 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 6% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 31st, 2020.

It looks like the U.K. mutation of the coronavirus is establishing firm footing in the U.S. Two states, Colorado and California, now have confirmed cases of a strain that’s said to be even more contagious. In Colorado, both cases are National Guard soldiers who were support staff at a nursing home. So far none of the cases had a recent travel history.

Canada's quarantine rules are likely about to get tougher. The country’s already requiring negative Covid tests before anyone is allowed into the country, and they’re asking residents to avoid all non-essential travel outside of Canada. Canada already required those entering the country to self-isolate 14 days and all flights from the U.K. had been banned.

Vaccinations come in a series of two shots, but those in the U.K. are being told that second one is going to be delayed. More than 500,000 people will have to wait for up to 12 weeks for round two as the NHS rethinks the rollout.

In this report, we tell you the hotspots. But is there any good news in any state? Yes. Six of them. Oregon’s infection rate has dropped 32% over the last two weeks. Minnesota really turned things around with an infection rate drop of 60% and a death rate drop of 34%. Hawaii, Colorado, and Iowa saw death rate drops of 50-75% in recent weeks. And the picture looks brighter in Vermont, although that state currently has a top 5 transmission rate.

Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on “Gilligan’s Island,” died yesterday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles. She was 82.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pershing, NV. Montour, PA. Pleasants, WV. Glasscock, TX. Bent, CO. Oldham, TX. Pecos, TX. Woods, OK. Lassen, CA. And Montgomery, IL.

There are now 7,867,419 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia overtakes Texas, Missouri, Maryland, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, California, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Tennessee, Florida, New York, and Vermont. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, Wisconsin, Oregon, North Dakota, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 342,312 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.75%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 427. Pennsylvania 335. Texas 314. Illinois 215. New York and Kansas 193. New Jersey 189. North Carolina 155. And Florida and Ohio 134.

Globally, there are 22,383,914 active cases.

There were 681,655 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 234,550. Brazil 55,853. The U.K. 50,023. Russia 26,513. And France 26,457.

There have now been 1,804,138 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 30th, 2020.

The first case in the U.S. of the variant first seen in the United Kingdom has been reported in Colorado. It was a man in his 20s with no travel history. There’s also a second suspected case who worked in the same county as the first man.

California's top health official extended strict stay-home orders in areas where ICU’s have few beds. He said while hospital and positivity rates appear to be stabilizing from a Thanksgiving surge, that’s not the case in Southern California, including Los Angeles County.

Yesterday we told you about revised fatality numbers in Russia. Today it’s China. A study from the Chinese CDC shows nearly half a million residents in Wuhan may have been infected. That’s almost 10 times the official number of confirmed cases there.

This is not what you want to hear. The World Health Organization says the coronavirus pandemic is “not necessarily the big one” and the world will have to live with Covid-19 as it becomes endemic even with vaccines. Professor David Heymann says Covid-19, like other human coronaviruses, will continue to mutate.

We told you of the Tyson Foods managers in Waterloo, Iowa who were fired for betting on how many of their workers would get COVID-19. Well one is now speaking out in an attempt to clear their names and prove they aren’t evil people. His defense, the office pool was spontaneous fun meant to boost morale.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Pleasants, WV. Glasscock, TX. Montour, PA. Bent, CO. Oldham, TX. Richmond, VA. Lassen, CA. Montgomery, IL. Woods, OK. And Chase NE.

There are now 7,786,653 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Maryland surpasses Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, California, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Rhode Island.  

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia, and New York. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Michigan.

There’ve been a total 338,544 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.75%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Pennsylvania 285. Texas 271. Michigan 212. California 203. Arizona 171. Indiana 165. New York 163. Ohio 149. Illinois 126. And Tennessee 122.

Globally, there are 22,194,433 active cases.

There were 490,470 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 194,860. Brazil 57,227. The U.K. 53,135. Russia 27,002. And India 20,529.

There have now been 1,788,731 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 4% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 29th, 2020. 

Novavax, a once-struggling company rescued by $2 billion in funding for its vaccine candidate at last started its U.S. efficacy trial. It was postponed several times as the company struggled to scale up manufacturing. Despite a nearly 30-year history making vaccines, Novavax has never won regulatory approval. 

Here, we regularly report the numbers. But the numbers as they are provided by various countries. Russia has now acknowledged its death toll was more than three times higher than reported. That quickly makes it the country with the third-largest number of fatalities.

Over the past week, almost 100,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in Los Angeles County. At one hospital five overflow tents are outside, and patients are being put in the gift shop, a chapel, and a conference room. The County Public Health Director said there’ve been 97,472 new cases over the past seven days and it’s expected to get worse. 

We’ve heard of those who’ve been vaccinated being able to carry proof of some sort. Spain is looking at it another way. They’re considering keeping a list of citizens who refuse to be vaccinated. Getting the shot will be voluntary, but if you don’t volunteer, you’d go on the list.

A new study in the U.K. suggests healthcare workers are seven times more likely to develop severe cases of COVID-19 than people in “nonessential” roles. People in social care and education job roles had an 84% higher risk.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Glasscock, TX. Montour, PA. Pleasants, WV. Bent, CO. Oldham, TX. Richmond, VA. Montgomery, IL. Woods, OK. Hudspeth, TX. And Bradford, FL. 

There are now 7,741,715 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, Tennessee, California, Oklahoma, and Alabama. 

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, West Virginia, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Idaho. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. 

There’ve been a total 334,830 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 245. New York 169. Illinois 134. Texas 126. Connecticut 113. Florida 96. Pennsylvania 85. Tennessee 76. Michigan 64. And Ohio 62. 

Globally, there are 22,092,340 active cases.

There were 447,539 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11. 

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 186,296. The U.K. 41,385. Russia 27,787. Brazil 22,605. India 16,072. 

There have now been 1,774,130 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 6% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 28th, 2020.

European Union countries kicked off their coordinated effort to vaccinate millions. Cases of the new variant were confirmed in several European countries, including Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. All linked to people who arrived from the U.K. More than 40% of England’s population is now living in Tier 4 restrictions.

December has been the nation's deadliest month since the start of the pandemic, with more than 63,000 Americans lost in the past 26 days. November saw about 36,964 deaths. Both President-Elect Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci have said the darkest days are ahead of us, with Fauci anticipating a "surge upon a surge."

But, there are the vaccines. And the head of AstraZeneca said researchers believe its shot will be effective against the new variant behind the rapid surge in Britain. He also said they’ve figured out a “winning formula” making the shot as effective as rival candidates.

New York Health officials are investigating a Brooklyn-based healthcare provider for possibly violating state vaccine distribution guidelines. A statement says ParCare Community Health Network "may have fraudulently obtained vaccine, transferred it to facilities and diverted it contrary to the plan to administer first to frontline healthcare workers, as well as nursing home residents and staffers.”

As if we needed coronavirus to generate more problems, the World Health Organization says a mutant, more powerful strain of gonorrhea is spreading worldwide, partly because the pandemic has more people on antibiotics and limited access to healthcare. This new “super gonorrhea” has apparently become resistant to antibiotics that normally could have handled it.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Glasscock, TX. Pleasants, WV. Montour, PA. Bent, CO. Oldham, TX. Perry, IL. Richmond, VA. Montgomery, IL. Hudspeth, TX. And Lawrence, IL.

There are now 7,736,834 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado.  

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Texas, Tennessee, California, Oklahoma, and Alabama.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, West Virginia, Hawaii, South Carolina, and Idaho. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana.

There’ve been a total 333,115 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.76%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Pennsylvania 124. New York 117. Illinois 112. Massachusetts 100. Florida 78. Tennessee 69. Texas 58. Indiana 42. And Arkansas and Mississippi with 41.

Globally, there are now over 22 million active cases, at 22,079,007.

There were 510,505 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 127,740. The U.K. 30,501. Russia 28,284. India 20,333. And Brazil 18,479.

There have now been 1,764,317 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Down 6% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 25th, 2020.

Lots of fear about what the Christmas holiday will bring, especially in California. The state passed 2 million cases Christmas Eve and that’s before the effect of Americans traveling and gathering hits. Even with vaccines at least one coronavirus model projects the US death toll will top 567,000 by April 1.

The chief scientific adviser for Operation Warp Speed said the frequency of allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine is higher than what would be expected for other vaccines. Discussions are underway between the vaccine makers and the NIH about holding clinical trials of vaccines in very allergic populations.

Another new variant of the coronavirus appears to have emerged in Nigeria. Add that to variants already announced in Britain and South Africa. The mutations are leading to the swift return of international travel restrictions and other measures. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country.

Mexico started administering the first 3,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The country's 1.4 million health workers will be first in line, followed by the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and teachers. Mexico was the first country in Latin America to get the vaccine.

Two newly opened In-N-Out Burger restaurants in Colorado both had active outbreaks with 80 employees testing positive. The locations are in Aurora and Colorado Springs. Neither had allowed indoor dining and the state has not linked any customers to either outbreak. Both restaurants remain open.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Montour, PA. Crowley, CO. Richmond, VA. La Salle, TX. Lassen, CA. Lawrence, IL. Perry, IL. Dawson, MT. And Guadalupe, NM.

There are now 7,555,137 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Virginia surpasses Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Texas, California, Rhode Island, and Oklahoma.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, West Virginia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Hawaii. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, North Dakota, Washington, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

There’ve been a total 329,022 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 306. Pennsylvania 258. Texas 242. New York 130. Florida 121. Illinois 118. Arizona 115. Ohio 95. Alabama 89. And Colorado 88.

Globally, there are 21,852,944 active cases.

There were 690,370 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 193,030. Brazil 58,916. The U.K. 39,036. Russia 29,935. And Germany 26,418.

There have now been 1,741,501 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 24th, 2020. 

Pfizer and BioNTech will supply the U.S. with an additional 100 million doses of their vaccine under a second agreement. They expect to deliver all that by July 31. The Health and Human Services Secretary said this can give people confidence “we will have enough supply to vaccinate every American who wants it by June 2021.”

So far in the U.S., more than 1 million people have received their first shot of a Covid-19 vaccine. And the CDC says that number is low because recent figures haven’t been tabulated. Health officials like Dr. Anthony Fauci warn most Americans won't get vaccinated until next year, so vigilance needs to continue. 

Canada’s health regulator authorized a second vaccine yesterday, the one from Moderna. They have ruled it to be safe, so shipments were expected to start within 48 hours.  

First there was a new strain in the U.K., now South Africa. In fact, two cases of the South African strain have been detected in the U.K. Scientists in South Africa believe the strain is likely more transmissible, may hit young people harder, and may be slightly more resistant to vaccines. But research is ongoing. 

In England, hospitals expect to be treating more patients on Christmas Day than at any other point in the pandemic. And there’s overall concern about NHS’ ability to cope with the surge over the course of winter. The projected number of hospitalizations on Christmas, 18,974.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Guadalupe, NM. Crowley, CO. Dawson, MT. Lassen, CA. San Bernardino, CA. Lawrence, IL. Perry, IL. Glascock, GA. And Perry, TN. 

There are now 7,481,068 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, California, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and Indiana.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, West Virginia, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Hawaii. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, New Jersey, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 326,088 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.79%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 350. Texas 255. Pennsylvania 222. Illinois 171. New York 148. New Jersey 139. Alabama 135. Missouri 127. Florida 123. And Tennessee 111. 

Globally, there are 21,668,619 active cases.

There were 642,206 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11. 

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 232,342. Brazil 46,657. The U.K. 39,237. Germany 31,297. And Russia 27,250. 

There have now been 1,729,166 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 23rd, 2020.

The CEO of BioNTech says they’re confident its vaccine does work against the new UK variant, but more studies are needed. Also there is no indication yet the new mutation causes more serious illness.

Still, this new variant is having an impact on other nations. France is letting traffic from the UK back in if drivers have a recent negative test. Three flights from the UK landed in Mumbai yesterday and so far, 15 passengers were found to have the new strain. One nation not imposing screenings for passengers from Britain, the United States.

Last week in the United States, someone died from COVID-19 every 33 seconds. More than 18,000 lives in seven days and up 6.7% from the prior week according to Reuters. And hospitals are preparing for more as people continue to holiday travel; 3.2 million people were screened at U.S. airports Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

There is now no longer any continent in the world that doesn’t have Covid-19. Antarctica has recorded its first case after 36 people tested positive on a Chilean research base.

Here’s what’s not in demand. Monoclonal antibody drugs for treating Covid-19. Federal officials are disappointed the drugs they've distributed across the country aren't being used. The drugs are to prevent those testing positive from getting worse. Hospitals are saying it’s too cumbersome to use these medicines.

Here’s what is increasingly in demand. The vaccine. Americans' willingness to take it is increasingly jumping. A USA TODAY poll showed 46% willing to take it as soon as they can. That's close to double the 26% who said that in late October.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Guadalupe, NM. Crowley, CO. Lassen, CA. Culberson, TX. Perry, TN. Dawson, MT. Lawrence, IL. And Perry, IL.

There are now 7,408,707 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Rhode Island, California, Alabama, and Arizona.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oklahoma, Maine, New Hampshire, West Virginia, and California. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Alaska, New Jersey, Washington, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

There’ve been a total 322,585 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.79%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 365. Pennsylvania 227. Texas 214. Michigan 189. Missouri 174. New York 154. Arizona 153. Illinois 144. Indiana 143. And Tennessee 133.

Globally, there are 21,514,917 active cases.

There were 552,680 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 199,080. Brazil 55,799. The U.K. 36,804. Russia 28,776. And India 23,886.

There have now been 1,715,815 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 22nd, 2020.

Trucks trying to get into France from Britain backed up for miles and people were stranded at airports as more than 40 countries enacted travel restrictions on the U.K. The rail operator Eurotunnel has also suspended service. This because of a new and seemingly more contagious strain of the coronavirus.

The European Union gave the go-ahead to the Pfizer vaccine, so shots should begin across the 27-nation bloc just after Christmas. The approval came just hours after the EU's drug regulatory agency said the vaccine meets safety and quality standards.

The Vatican says that it is "morally acceptable" to get a Covid-19 vaccination even if its research or production involved using cell lines from aborted fetuses. It said this is okay given the "grave danger" of the pandemic. Pope Francis approved the text Thursday.

Police in New York City raided a club filled with more than 160 patrons, none of whom were wearing masks, in violation of the state's COVID-19 restrictions. This happened around 2:45am Sunday in Queens. Plus, the building is not set up to be a club so they were also violating fire safety codes and did not have a liquor license.

If you think people are partying now, wait until after the pandemic. Yale’s Dr Nicholas Christakis says based on history, that period will see people doing the opposite of what the pandemic demanded. Extensive social interaction and partying, licentious sex, big spending, and a reverse of religiosity. He compares it to the roaring 20’s.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Alfalfa, OK. Guadalupe, NM. Bent, CO. Crowley, CO. Lassen, CA. Culberson, TX. Atascosa, TX. Perry, TN. Warren, TN. And Perry, IL.

There are now 7,344,448 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Virginia, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Rhode Island, California, Alabama, and Arizona.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Oklahoma, California, West Virginia, and Mississippi. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Washington, Alaska, North Dakota, Wyoming, and New Jersey.

There’ve been a total 319,354 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.8%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 245. New York 179. Texas 142. Illinois 120. Florida 110. Kansas 107. Connecticut 95. Michigan 79. Ohio 67. And Tennessee and Louisiana 65.

Globally, there are 21,415,363 active cases.

There were 536,082 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 200,109. The U.K. 33,364. Russia 29,350. Brazil 25,621. And Germany 19,333.

There have now been 1,701,656 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 21st, 2020.

As a new mutation of the virus reported to spread 70% faster than the original sweeps across England, train stations were packed as thousands ignoring travel bans tried to get out of the area for the holiday. France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Bulgaria, and Canada have all announced restrictions on U.K. travel. Scientists believe the vaccine will still work on this mutation but aren’t 100% sure.

Initial shipments of the second authorized vaccine left a Memphis distribution center yesterday. Shots of this Moderna vaccine are expected to start today with the first going to health care workers and residents in long-term care homes. And a third vaccine, this one from Johnson & Johnson, could get U.S. approval as early as next month.

California hospitals are now talking about rationing care as ICUs fill up and cases soar. As of Friday, almost 17,400 people are hospitalized there. Guidelines are being prepared to shift to trying to save those likely to survive, while others with less likely positive outcomes would get different care than they would in a non-crisis situation.

The worse the virus gets the less people seem willing to listen. More than 2 million people have passed through security checkpoints at U.S. airports over the last two days. Official guidance is to stay home for the holidays, but travel is much higher than statistics from when the pandemic began.

Researchers from Tel Aviv University published results of their study into whether or not irradiation with ultraviolet LED lights would inactivate human coronaviruses. They found certain wavelengths worked very well on the coronavirus tested, inactivating 99.9% of it in under 30 seconds. But, they weren’t testing the virus that causes Covid so that’s what they want to do next.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Guadalupe, NM. Crowley, CO. Lassen, CA. Montour, PA. Hudspeth, TX. Culberson, TX. Atascosa, TX. And Perry, TN.

There are now 7,320,628 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, and Colorado. 

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Rhode Island, California, Arizona, and Indiana.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Oklahoma, California, Texas, and Mississippi. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Alaska, and Michigan.

There’ve been a total 317,667 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.81%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 109. New York 95. Pennsylvania 92. Florida 90. California 84. Illinois 81. Minnesota 70. Indiana 66. Massachusetts 60. And Iowa 56.

Globally, there are now over 21 million active cases at 21,381,348.

There were 615,962 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 183,223. The U.K. 35,928. Russia 28,948. Brazil 25,445. And India 24,589.

There have now been 1,692,578 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 5% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 18th, 2020.

French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 after a week in which he met with numerous European leaders. The 42-year-old is experiencing symptoms and will self-isolate for seven days.

A second vaccine moved closer to distribution, winning the unanimous endorsement of a panel of experts. Now the Moderna vaccine goes for a final decision by the FDA on emergency use. The shot claims to provide 94% protection.

California hospitals are struggling. In fact there’s 0% availability of ICU beds in Southern California. Hospitalizations have broken records for 18 consecutive days. The state has activated its "mass fatality" program, which means refrigerated mobile morgues and the distribution of 5,000 body bags to hard hit counties like Los Angeles and San Diego.

However, a judge in California cleared the way yesterday for all restaurants in San Diego County to resume on-site dining. That’s a setback to the governor’s stay-at-home order and he has appealed the decision.

It’s advised the following at least observe caution in getting the vaccine. People who have an autoimmune disorder like lupus, people with a history of severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or injections, people with weakened immune systems like those with cancer or HIV, and pregnant and breastfeeding women. That’s not to say these folks can’t be immunized, but additional caution is warranted.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Guadalupe, NM. Pershing, NV. Montour, PA. Atascosa, TX. Lassen, CA. Lincoln, CO. Kimball, NE. And Johnson, NE.

There are now more than 7 million active cases in the United States, at 7,017,785. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Illinois, Texas, Virginia overtakes Missouri, then Michigan, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Tennessee, Rhode Island, Arizona, Indiana, and New Mexico.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, California, Arizona, New Hampshire, and West Virginia. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.  

There’ve been a total 310,434 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.83%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 263. Texas 255. Pennsylvania 246. Michigan 213. Illinois 208. Tennessee 177. New York 156. Arizona 147. Ohio 117. And Florida 102.

Globally, there are 20,758,423 active cases.

There were 726,265 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 230,982. Brazil 68,832. The U.K. 35,383. Germany 30,951. And Russia 28,214.

There have now been 1,660,281 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 10% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 17th, 2020.

A Juneau, Alaska healthcare worker had an anaphylactic reaction Tuesday and was hospitalized in ICU after being injected with the Pfizer vaccine. She did not have a history of allergies. Two healthcare workers in Britain had a similar reaction last week.

But vaccinations are underway in Britain. In fact almost 138,000 people across the U.K. have already been vaccinated since the rollout began last week. The government’s ordered 40 million doses, 5 million of which are due before the end of the month.

A study out of the University of Massachusetts Lowell and California Baptist University says wearing a mask is good, but wearing a used mask, not so good. The study claims a new three-layer surgical mask is 65% efficient in filtering particles in the air, but when used, that number drops to 25%.

A survey by Britain’s Royal Society for Public Health found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds or with lower incomes are less likely to take the vaccine. That’s not uncommon, it’s true of other vaccines, like measles and flu. But it is concerning as these are vulnerable populations for coronavirus.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wants fans in the stands at the Super Bowl. Fans who’ve been vaccinated. And who’ll be vaccinated by January? Healthcare workers. Nothing definite yet, but the league is planning to exclusively reward front line workers with the available seats at the big game.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Pershing, NV. Bowman, ND. Montour, PA. Collingsworth, TX. Guadalupe, NM. Lassen, CA. Atascosa, TX. And Lincoln, CO.

There are now 6,907,306 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, New York, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Idaho.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Arizona, Maine, California, West Virginia, and Hawaii. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Iowa, and New Mexico.  

There’ve been a total 307,339 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.84%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 407. Pennsylvania 262. Texas 256. Illinois 190. Kansas 144. Indiana 133. New Jersey 125. Ohio 124. And Florida and New York 112.

Globally, there are 20,506,395 active cases.

There were 611,749 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 246,996. Brazil 68,437. Turkey 29,718. Germany 28,969. And Russia 26,509.

There have now been 1,648,091 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 16th, 2020.

The FDA authorized the rapid coronavirus test, which does not require a prescription and can be done entirely at home. You’ll be able to buy it, swab your nose, run the test, and get results in as little as 20 minutes.

The FDA also released an analysis of the vaccine from Moderna that supports authorization for emergency use. The agency said it has a "favorable safety profile" and there are "no specific safety concerns." But side effects like fatigue and headaches are common.

The EU is speeding things up, under pressure from its member nations. A meeting to assess the Pfizer vaccine has been moved up to December 21 from December 29. The fact it’s already being given daily to thousands of people in Britain, which left the EU, is galling countries like Germany, where the vaccine’s co-maker is actually based.

Americans are changing their tune about taking the vaccine. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll now finds 71% of respondents saying they’d take it, which is dramatically up from the 63% who said so in August.

If you want a Covid cop, call Tom Cruise. On the set of his new Mission Impossible movie in the U.K., he spotted two crew members standing within 6 feet of each other. He flew into a lengthy expletive-filled rage which was, of course, recorded. It’s said Cruise personally does safety inspections on the set.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Collingsworth, TX. Pershing, NV. Bowman, ND. Alfalfa, OK. Montour, PA. Childress, TX. Guadalupe, NM. Lincoln, CO. And Kimball, NE.

There are now 6,824,858 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, New York overtakes Illinois, Missouri surpasses Texas, then Virginia, Michigan, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Idaho.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Arizona, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Hawaii, and California. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, North Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota.  

There’ve been a total 303,453 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.84%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 290. Pennsylvania 261. Texas 220. Michigan 206. Missouri 162. Illinois 132. Indiana 128. New York 126. Colorado 116. And Ohio 96.

Globally, there are 20,347,923 active cases.

There were 536,131 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported on December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 199,875. Brazil 44,849. Turkey 32,102. Russia 26,689. And India 26,401.

There have now been 1,633,180 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 3% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 15th, 2020.

The European version of the CDC put out a list of the top 10 countries for Covid deaths per million people. They are Belgium, Peru, Italy, Spain, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzigovena, Slovenia, the U.K., the United States, and Argentina. Americans have died at 2.5x the rate of Canadians and 46x the rate in Japan.

The last words anyone wants to hear: new strain of Covid-19. But it’s been identified in the U.K. and it’s thought this variant could be linked to the recent rapid spread. Millions more people in London are being moved into the toughest restrictions.

A new AP poll oddly finds Covid deaths are obviously increasing but there’s not much increase in alarm. 40% say they are extremely or very worried about themselves or a family member, and that’s lower than surveys in March and July.

You know who hasn’t taken the Pfizer vaccine yet? The CEO of Pfizer. But Albert Bourla offered up an explanation yesterday. He doesn’t want to be seen as jumping the line. He says, “We’re having an ethical committee dealing with the question of who’s getting it.”

50 children were possibly exposed to the coronavirus at a Christmas parade in Ludowici, Georgia after Santa and Mrs. Claus (maybe not the real ones – it could be their helpers), tested positive. The parade was followed by a chance for kids to get a picture taken with Santa.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Collingsworth, TX. Pershing NV. Bowman, ND. Lincoln, CO. Montour, PA. Lassen, CA. Ellsworth, KS. And Childress, TX.

There are now 6,763,070 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona overtakes Illinois, New York, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Colorado, and Michigan.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Rhode Island, Ohio, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Indiana.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Tennessee, California, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Kentucky. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, North Dakota, New Mexico, Montana, and Iowa.  

There’ve been a total 300,474 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.85%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 140. Florida 137. New York 120. Illinois 116. Michigan 91. Connecticut 81. Tennessee 79. Texas 70. Pennsylvania 69. And Iowa 60.

Globally, there are 20,238,837 active cases.

There were 530,637 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 748,974 reported December 11.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 198,647. Turkey 29,617. Brazil 27,419. Russia 27,328. And India 21,791.

There have now been 1,620,294 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 14th, 2020.

The first freezer-packed Pfizer vaccine vials went out to distribution sites across the United States yesterday, just as the number of deaths prepares to cross the 300,000 milestone. This will be the biggest vaccination effort in U.S. history. Healthcare workers and nursing home residents should start getting shots today.

In terms of expectations, the United States expects to have immunized 100 million people by the end of March. That according to the chief adviser for the vaccine program. He said the United States hopes to have about 40 million doses distributed by the end of December.

US Covid-19 hospitalizations hit a record high for the seventh day in a row Saturday at 108,487. There have been more than 100,000 patients in hospitals every day since December 2.

Around the world, lockdown measures are increasing. In Germany, most stores closed, tight limits on social contacts, no singing in church, no fireworks sales, and schools are closing or switching to home school Wednesday. The President of South Korea warned the toughest restrictions are coming. And the Dutch government is set to decide on stricter measures today.

The death of country music legend Charley Pride from Covid has other country stars wondering…did his presence at the Country Music Association’s indoor awards show have anything to do with it? The show however was a month before Pride got the virus and became his last public performance.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bent, CO. Alfalfa, OK. Collingsworth, TX. Pershing NV. Bowman, ND. Jackson, AR. Lassen, CA. Ellsworth, KS. Lincoln, CO. And Childress, TX.

There are now 6,706,369 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Alaska, Rhode Island, Ohio, North Dakota, and Indiana.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina, and Delaware. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, North Dakota, New Mexico, Illinois, and Montana.  

There’ve been a total 299,163 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.86%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Pennsylvania 120. Illinois 107. Texas 101. New York and Colorado 87. Minnesota 85. Florida 81. California 73. Tennessee 62. And South Carolina 54.

Globally, there are now over 20 million active cases, at 20,162,922.

There were 748,974 new cases around the world reported on Dec 11. The New York Times reported a data anomaly prevented newer numbers than that. Still, the December 11 number sets a new record high by a wide margin.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 187,901. Russia 28,080. India 27,366. Turkey 26,919. And Brazil 21,395.

There have now been 1,612,014 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 11th, 2020.

There have been 3,124 American deaths in one day, the highest single day total yet. That’s more than D-Day or 9/11. One million new cases in five days. More than 106,000 hospitalized and the number of people in the hospital with Covid is setting records almost daily.

The next step is done. A panel of outside experts yesterday recommended the FDA grant emergency use authorization to Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine. The vote was 17 to 4. The FDA does not have to follow the panel’s recommendation but is widely expected to do so. The rollout in the U.S. could begin in a matter of days.

If you were going to give an award out to the states that handled the pandemic best as of now, which states would get it? Dr. Anthony Fauci has an opinion on that and he’s singled out Vermont and New York. He said back in September Vermont should serve as a model. New York is more of a surprise since it was for a time the epicenter. But Fauci says the state is doing all the right things.

A couple more celebrities have tested positive. Ellen DeGeneres said she has the virus but is feeling fine, though production on her show has stopped. And Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba tested positive and is showing symptoms, but is not hospitalized. More seriously, New Hampshire’s Speaker of the House, Dick Hinch, died of Covid Wednesday. He was elected Speaker just one week ago.

A proof of concept study has backed up the belief dogs can be trained to detect Covid-19 by sniffing human sweat. Many countries are thinking about using them as a rapid, reliable, and inexpensive way to prescreen people in various circumstances. They can apparently detect it with no symptoms present.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Dewey, SD. Bent, CO. Lincoln, CO. Montour, PA. Ellsworth, KS. Collingsworth, TX. Alfalfa, OK. Bowman, ND. Childress, TX. And Lassen, CA.

There are now 6,408,836 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Alaska, South Dakota, Nebraska, Indiana, and Utah.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Arizona, Massachusetts, California, Georgia, and New York. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, and Montana.  

There’ve been a total 292,001 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.9%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 245. Illinois 232. Pennsylvania 226. Michigan 194. California 164. Florida 126. Colorado 120. Ohio 111. Iowa 99. And Indiana 97.

Globally, there are now 19,981,129 active cases.

There are 664,648 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 706,016 on December 3.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 217,779. Brazil 53,425. India 34,666. Turkey 30,424. And Germany 28,179.

There have now been 1,580,867 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 10th, 2020.

Yesterday, the U.S. hit the highest daily death toll thus far. 3,054, which beat the May 7th record of 2,769. And there’s a record breaking 106,688 hospitalizations. The good news, as regular listeners of Coronavirus 411 will know, is that despite this, the fatality rate continues to decline.

U.K. regulators say people with a “significant history” of allergic reactions should not get the Pfizer vaccine. They’re investigating two adverse reactions that occurred on the first day of their mass vaccination program. Both recipients are recovering well.

Canada became the third after the U.K. and Bahrain to approve Pfizer’s vaccine and hopes to start shots next week. The Chief Medical Adviser at Health Canada said, “This a momentous occasion. The geek in me is amazed.”

A new AP poll finds only about half of Americans are ready to take a vaccine. About a fourth aren’t sure and another fourth say they won’t do it. So that’s no change in willingness since a poll taken in May. Of those who won’t get it, 70% are concerned about side effects. 43% worry the vaccine will infect them, which is scientifically impossible since the shots contain no virus.

Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine is administered in two phases 21 days apart. And the country’s leaders are saying recipients can’t drink for those 42 days because booze is an immunosuppressant. Wait, it gets worse. They also have to stop drinking two weeks before their first injection. That’s two months of sobriety in one of the world's leading alcohol consuming nations.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Bent, CO. Dewey, SD. Montour, PA. Alfalfa, OK. Deaf Smith, TX. Lassen, CA. Childress, TX. Jackson, AR. And Schuyler, IL.

There are now 6,296,933 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, Virginia, and Colorado.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Alaska, Indiana, Utah, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in California, Georgia, New York, New Hampshire, and Delaware. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, Montana, Iowa, North Dakota, and New Mexico.  

There’ve been a total 289,298 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.9%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 287. Colorado 267. Pennsylvania 256. Illinois 229. California 201. New Jersey 111. Arizona 108. Iowa 102. Indiana 96. And Massachusetts 90.

Globally, there are now 19,669,286 active cases.

There are 534,844 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 225,441. Brazil 54,203. Turkey 31,712. India 26,351. And Russia 26,190.

There have now been 1,568,512 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 9th, 2020.

The U.K. has started vaccinating. The first was given yesterday morning before dawn at a hospital in the English city of Coventry to 90-year-old Margaret Keenan. The second went to a man named William Shakespeare, so British social media are calling it the taming of the flu.

When will Covid-19 peak in the U.S.? Well the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation has hazarded a guess. January 20. They say that’s a worst-case scenario and assuming a 90-day vaccine rollout with 3 million doses delivered a day.

But first, the vaccines have to get approved by the FDA. An analysis released yesterday shows Pfizer’s vaccine showed no specific safety concerns. Next, a group of independent experts will meet and advise the FDA on whether or not it should get emergency use authorization.

In Canada, possible punishment if you don’t get an injection. Ontario’s health minister said those who refuse to take it could have restrictions put on them. These would make it hard to do things like travel and go to activities in communal spaces like movie theatres. Ontario will issue government papers people can show to prove they’re in compliance.

It’s not just us. Four lions at Barcelona Zoo in Spain tested positive. It’s the second known case of large felines getting it. They were tested after they started exhibiting symptoms. Two staff also tested positive after an outbreak was detected last month.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Bent, CO. Dewey, SD. Montour, PA. Alfalfa, OK. Deaf Smith, TX. Lassen, CA. Prairie, MT. Jackson, AR. And Pawnee, KS.

There are now 6,211,242 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Texas leaps to #2, then Florida, Illinois, New York, Georgia goes back on the list, as does Ohio. Then Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Alaska, Indiana, Utah, South Dakota, and New Mexico.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in California, Georgia, New York, New Hampshire, and Delaware. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and New Mexico.  

There’ve been a total 286,189 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.91%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 212. Michigan 203. Texas 199. Iowa 196. Pennsylvania 174. Illinois 168. Missouri 132. Indiana 126. Florida 120. And Tennessee 100.

Globally, there are now 19,540,692 active cases.

There are 632,708 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 208,121. Brazil 47,850. Turkey 33,198. India 32,067. And Russia 26,097.

There have now been 1,555,898 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 14% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 8th, 2020.

Britain begins its vaccine program this week and now the job is reassuring people it’s safe and effective. Not easy, because a sizable minority don’t believe it is. And the World Health Organization estimates it’ll take 65-70% vaccine coverage to reach population immunity.

South Korea’s health minister is using the harshest wording he can think of to communicate the gravity of the situation there. He said the Seoul metropolitan area is now a “COVID-19 war zone.” They’ve recorded more than 5,300 new infections in 10 days and most of that has come from Seoul.

New data released by Health and Human Services gives a detailed picture of how individual hospitals in the United States are holding up. In 126 counties, the average hospital is at least 90% occupied. The states with the most counties above this threshold are Kentucky, Georgia, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The vaccine is already creating jobs. If you need one, CVS Health is looking for thousands of pharmacists, nurses, pharmacy technicians and more. The problem for CVS is…so is everybody else. The Department of Defense said CVS and Walgreens will be the ones to give vaccines to people in long-term care facilities nationwide.

Pathetic but very 2020 advice for Americans this holiday season from the World Health Organization. Don't hug. Dr. Michael Ryan said, “It’s a horrible thing to think we’d be here as the World Health Organization saying to people, ‘Don’t hug each other.’ It’s terrible. But that’s the brutal reality.” At the moment, the U.S. accounts for a third of all cases in the world.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Dewey, SD. Bent, CO. Montour, PA. Ziebach, SD. Lassen, CA. Jackson, AR. Prairie, MT. Deaf Smith, TX. And Hall, TX.

There are now 6,096,357 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Alaska, Minnesota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Indiana.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in California, Georgia, Delaware, New York, and Massachusetts. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

There’ve been a total 283,650 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.93%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 115. New York 112. Florida 105. Michigan 101. Illinois 100. Texas 83. Connecticut 78. Kansas 70. Tennessee 66. And Ohio 61.

Globally, there are now 19,377,609 active cases.

There are 534,049 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 198,792. Turkey 32,137. Russia 28,412. India 27,107. And Brazil 24,525.

There have now been 1,543,280 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 12% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 7th, 2020.

More than one million new cases have been logged in US in the first five days of December, according to Johns Hopkins University. And the total number of US cases has now reached more than 14.5 million, with 281,199 deaths as of Saturday.

Southern California and San Joaquin Valley residents went under a stay-at-home order last night. The mandate was triggered when ICU capacity in those areas fell below 15%. The order affects some 27 million people, including Los Angeles and San Diego.

Residents in the U.K. could start getting their first shots as early as this week. Doses are scheduled to be delivered to hospitals starting today. Nursing home residents, health care workers and those 80 and over will be first in line for the vaccine.

But in the U.S. nearly 55% of New York City firefighters responded “no” when asked by one of their unions if they would take the vaccine from Pfizer when it’s made available. The New York City Fire Department will not be making the vaccine mandatory for its members.

As employers try to figure out how to reopen their offices—a great many of their workers are saying, don’t bother. 27% surveyed say they'd never or rarely work from their employer's office in an ideal world. 48% expect their employer to expand remote working options post-pandemic.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Dewey, SD. Bent, CO. Prairie, MT. Montour, PA. Ziebach, SD. Lassen, CA. Deaf Smith, TX. Childress, TX. And Richland, MT.

There are now over 6 million active cases in the United States at 6,015,130. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida overtakes Illinois, Arizona, New York surpasses Texas, then Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are New Mexico, South Dakota, Wyoming, Indiana, and Ohio.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in California, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Arizona. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Iowa, North Dakota, Wyoming, Illinois, and Montana.

There’ve been a total 282,236 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.95%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 99. Florida 93. Texas 70. Minnesota 64. California and Pennsylvania 55. Massachusetts 51. New York 45. South Carolina 43. And Arkansas 40.

Globally, there are now over 19 million active cases at 19,266,794.

There are 624,070 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 173,861. India 32,272. Turkey 30,402. Russia 29,039. And Brazil 26,363.

There have now been 1,535,107 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 14% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 4th, 2020.

The U.S. recorded over 3,100 COVID-19 deaths in one day, obliterating the record set last spring. The CDC’s Dr. Robert Redfield said, “The reality is December and January and February are going to be rough times. I actually believe they’re going to be the most difficult time in the public health history of this nation.”

Pfizer has cut in half their original estimates for how many vaccines would be shipped globally by the end of this year. The Wall Street Journal reports there are supply-chain issues. Which may be frustrating, but to keep things in perspective, this vaccine development has been one of the fastest in history. It typically takes 10 years for a vaccine to get regulatory approval.

IBM security researchers detected a cyberespionage effort against the World Health Organization. It used targeted phishing emails to try to get information on their initiative for vaccine distribution to developing countries. The researchers said they couldn’t be sure who was behind it or how successful it was.

Sweden appears to be changing its mind about lockdowns. Public confidence in authorities’ ability to handle the crisis are sliding. Sweden’s anti-lockdown approach is being challenged by mounting numbers of deaths and new cases. High schools there are switching to distance learning December 7.

How do you encourage people to take the vaccine? The CDC thinks giving people who do a nice shiny button might do the trick. They’re planning to offer health care providers a template they can use to print buttons or stickers that’d display a person's vaccination status.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lincoln, CO. Crowley, CO. Crockett, TX. Brewster, TX. Prairie, MT. Bent, CO. Republic, KS. Richland, MT. Renville, ND. And Crane, TX.

There are now 5,690,940 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Michigan and New York overtake Missouri, then Virginia, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oregon, Washington, New Hampshire, Virginia, and California. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Illinois.

There’ve been a total 276,148 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.98%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 228. Texas 224. Pennsylvania 206. Michigan 193. California 145. Colorado 127. Florida 103. New York 101. Tennessee 93. And Minnesota 92.

Globally, there are now 18,645,430 active cases.

There are 600,856 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 218,576. Brazil 50,866. India 38,309. Turkey 32,381. And Russia 28,145.

There have now been 1,504,443 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 9% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 3rd, 2020.

They’re first. British officials authorized a vaccine for emergency use yesterday. The vaccine is from Pfizer and the U.K. regulatory agency seems to agree it’s proven in testing to be 95% effective overall and offers significant protection for older people. Britain expects to start getting the first shipment of 800,000 doses “within days.”

The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients nationwide stood on the brink of 100,000 as of yesterday. Some experts said the total, compiled by the COVID Tracking Project, could soon double. For instance, California’s Governor said ICU beds there could be full by mid-December.

A study out of Harvard, Rutgers, and Northwestern shows social distancing and other efforts to try to prevent the virus from spreading "decreased dramatically" in the U.S. over the summer and into the fall. And while about 77% said they were good about wearing masks in November, adherence to social distancing, avoiding public places, frequent hand washing, and disinfecting surfaces all reached all-time lows in October.

In Pasadena, California, health authorities have taken a stand against Los Angeles County’s ban on outdoor dining. Meanwhile in New York City, a bar owner defying the ban there on indoor service was arrested. It was a sting operation involving plainclothes officers.  

With a vaccine right around the corner, many of you might be asking, should I get it if I already survived Covid? The answer is…still…we don’t know. But the director of the infectious diseases division at Johns Hopkins says there’s likely little risk in getting the shot, so that’s the recommendation.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Crawford, WI. Dewey, SD. Presidio, TX. Prairie, MT. Brewster, TX. Crockett, TX. Ellis, OK. Powell, MT. and Bent, CO.

There are now 5,571,729 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Montana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oregon, New Hampshire, Washington, New York, and Mississippi. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota.

There’ve been a total 273,316 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.99%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 266. Texas 212. Pennsylvania 187. Ohio 123. California 120. Kansas 119. Indiana 109. Florida 95. Colorado 84. And Michigan 83.

Globally, there are now 18,402,773 active cases.

There are 599,017 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States crosses the 200,000 mark at 203,427. Brazil 48,124. India 33,761. Turkey 31,923. And Russia 25,345.

There have now been 1,492,029 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 14% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 2nd, 2020.

The European Union drug agency said it may need four more weeks to approve its first vaccine, the one from Pfizer, but could do so by Dec. 29. And fast as that is, it’s not as fast as hoped. Germany was preparing to start immunizing starting in mid-December.

Nearly 37,000 Americans died of COVID-19 just in November, straining hospitals, morgues, and funeral homes. November's toll was much lower than the 60,699 in April but very close to the next-highest total in May.

A study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, based on blood donations, says the virus was here in the U.S. weeks earlier than scientists thought, and before cases in China were publicized. The first U.S. case was confirmed January 20, but infections may have been present in December 2019. That adds to evidence the virus was well underway around the world before anybody was aware.

There’s at least one person that sure hopes China’s experimental vaccine really works. Japanese intelligence says it was given to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his family. But experts on North Korea, including defectors, say there’s no way that happened. A) Kim would never risk it, B) he has plenty of places to safely isolate, and C) he would prefer a proven European vaccine.

In the “what are people thinking” department, at least 41 out of 300 swingers were infected after couples passed around the virus at a New Orleans convention. The organizer of the 5-day Naughty in N'awlins event said they did everything they could to stay safe but in hindsight, maybe they shouldn’t have had it.  

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Powell, MT. Crowley, CO. Dewey, SD. Brewster, TX. Presidio, TX. Crockett, TX. Crawford, WI. Ellis, OK. Hudspeth, TX. And Comanche, KS.

There are now 5,498,496 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Michigan, New York surpasses Virginia, then Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oregon, New Hampshire, Washington, New York, and Mississippi. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, and South Dakota.

There’ve been a total 270,509 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 237. Michigan 195. Pennsylvania 170. Illinois 146. Indiana 141. Missouri 134. Ohio 119. California 113. Wisconsin 107. And Florida and New Jersey 84.

Globally, there are now 18,264,375 active cases.

There are 519,657 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 182,172. Brazil 52,248. India 36,456. Turkey 30,110. And Russia 26,402.

There have now been 1,478,923 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 14% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for December 1st, 2020.

Health officials across America are assuming a disastrous surge from Thanksgiving gatherings. Los Angeles County imposed a stay-at-home order. Silicon Valley banned all sports and required quarantine of those who went anywhere over 150 miles outside the county. New Jersey is suspending all youth sports. In Hawaii, even travelers who’ve tested negative may be randomly selected for more testing on arrival.

The FDA said Moderna submitted its vaccine for emergency use authorization yesterday after completing its Phase 3 trial and finding the vaccine was 94.1% effective. In fact Moderna claims it was 100% effective at preventing severe cases.

Canada’s government has extended its restrictions on non-essential travel until early 2021. Visitors who aren’t Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot enter the country if their reason for coming is deemed non-essential. The Canada-U.S. border will also remain closed to discretionary travel until at least December 21.

The pandemic takes its toll in many ways. In Japan, suicide claimed more lives just in October than Covid-19 has over the entire year to date. 2,153. This even though Japan never had a lockdown, and the impact was minimal compared to other countries. Which suggests other countries might see an even larger increase once suicides are reported, which Japan does in near real time.

It appears Covid-19 is what took the life of one of the most iconic villains of all time. The daughter of 85-year-old David Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the first Star Wars trilogy, said his death was from complications of Covid-19. She said, “It’s horrible Covid restrictions meant we didn’t get to see him and say goodbye.”

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Powell, MT. Crowley, CO. Presidio, TX. Brewster, TX. Ellis, OK. Ellsworth, KS. Crockett, TX. Crawford, WI. Hudspeth, TX. And Rush, KS.

There are now 5,422,659 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Michigan surpasses Virginia, then New York, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oregon, New Hampshire, Washington, Maine, and Kentucky. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, Illinois, and Minnesota.

There’ve been a total 267,987 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.01%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 103. Florida 99. Michigan 97. Texas 85. Washington 69. New York 65. Connecticut 59. California 58. Tennessee 48. And Pennsylvania 45.

Globally, there are now 18,130,797 active cases.

There are 490,233 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 161,568. Turkey 31,219. India 31,179. Russia 26,338. And Brazil 21,538.

There have now been 1,466,762 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 15% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 30th, 2020.

Dr. Deborah Birx of the White House Coronavirus Task Force says if you traveled over Thanksgiving and attended a large gathering, just go ahead and assume you’ve been infected and get tested. You should also stay away from senior citizens and people with comorbidities.

The FAA confirmed the first mass air shipment of vaccine, charter flights bringing Pfizer's vaccine to the U.S. from Belgium, started Friday. But while preparations are ramping up, shipment to actual administration sites is not allowed until the FDA authorizes the vaccine.

California reported a record number of hospitalizations. 7,415 reported on Saturday, a big jump from Friday’s figure of 6,972. Hospitalizations in that state have more than doubled in two weeks and the number of people in ICU with the virus is also near a record. Nationwide, hospitalizations reached another record — 91,635 on Saturday.

How a country reports its Covid numbers matters. Turkey recently changed how it reports daily infections, from just those being treated for symptoms to everyone who tests positive. The result? The realization there’s an alarming surge of cases exhausting the Turkish health system. With the new data, the country jumped from being one of the least-affected countries in Europe to one of the worst.

New York City’s Mayor says they’ll reopen schools to in-person learning and raise the number of days a week many children attend class. The reversal comes less than two weeks after the Mayor said schools were closing because of a rising number of cases in the city.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Powell, MT. Crowley, CO. Presidio, TX. Ellis, OK. Ellsworth, KS. Crockett, TX. Crawford, WI. Rush, KS. Foster, ND. And Dewey, SD.

There are now 5,370,129 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, New York, and Maryland. 

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Montana, Minnesota, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Oregon with a particularly high 1.63 average, then New Hampshire, Washington, Arizona, and Maine. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Illinois, South Dakota, Iowa, North Dakota, and Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 266,838 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.03%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Pennsylvania 65. Florida 59. Minnesota 57. Texas 54. Massachusetts 46. Illinois 44. New York 42. Mississippi 27. Maryland 23. And Wisconsin and Indiana 22.

Globally, there are now over 18 million active cases, at 18,058,739.

There are 580,351 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 138,188. India 39,036. Turkey 29,281. Russia 26,683. And Brazil 24,468.

There have now been 1,458,260 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 17% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 27th, 2020.

AstraZeneca and Oxford University acknowledged a manufacturing error that throws uncertainty on their claim their vaccine was 90% effective. Oxford said some of the vials used in the trial actually didn’t have the right concentration of vaccine. The manufacturing error is said to have been corrected.

Greece's government announced a weeklong extension to their current lockdown. The virus continues to spread especially in the north of the country. The lockdown will now go to December 7. And Germany has extended restrictions through at least December 20.

California reported a record number of cases as LA restaurants prepared to close for three weeks and firefighters in Silicon Valley were enlisted as public health rule enforcers. Almost the whole state is under a 10pm to 5am curfew with bans on indoor dining and store capacity. LA has stopped restaurants from serving at all and is considering a stay-home order.

Canadians have been told by their Prime Minister they should expect to get the vaccine after other countries because they can’t make it. Justin Trudeau said, “Canada no longer has domestic production capacity for vaccines.” Plus Health Canada has to approve any vaccine.

You might want to take the Covid numbers over the next couple of days with a grain of salt. At least 14 states aren’t updating their data over the holiday. Many county and regional health departments took at least Thursday off. And remember, new cases and deaths are reported on the date they’re announced, not necessarily on the date they happened. A dip this week in numbers might be artificially low, and a spike next week might be artificially high as the numbers play catch up.  

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Powell, MT. Union, NM. Foster, ND. Crawford, WI. Alpine, CA. Clearwater, ID. Ness, KS. Webster, NE.

There are now 5,132,249 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, New York, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington, California, and Oregon. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Mississippi, and North Dakota.

There’ve been a total 263,417 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.07%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 175. Illinois 156. Pennsylvania 115. Indiana 63. Wisconsin 62. California 54. Tennessee 53. Colorado 51. And New York and Arizona 44.

Globally, there are 17,474,922 active cases.

There are 632,065 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 108,063. India 43,174. Brazil 37,672. Italy 29,003. And Russia 25,487.

There have now been 1,430,822 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide. Up 24% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 26th, 2020.

The pandemic is hitting the old and the young in different ways. The latest surge is fueling a record number of nursing home outbreaks. The virus is spreading quickly inside long-term care facilities in the Midwest and Great Plains and re-emerging in facilities swamped by the first wave. More than 1,300 nursing homes across the U.S. reported having three or more confirmed cases during the first week of November — the highest number ever reported in a single week.

For the young, it’s anxiety. A study out of the University of Bristol in England shows the early stages of the pandemic and first lockdown caused the number of young people age 27 to 29 with anxiety to nearly double. And those anxiety levels stayed high even when lockdown restrictions began to ease in June.

That anxiety may get put to the test even further. Government scientists in the UK have warned relaxing restrictions over Christmas could lead to yet a third wave and more lockdowns in 2021. At least two advisors say the plan to let up to three family households mix indoors over Christmas threatens to overwhelm the National Health Service.

While you’re deciding whether or not to get a vaccine for Covid, your employer may not even give you a choice. Many employers are reportedly weighing whether they should make vaccination mandatory for employment. And yes, that’s legal.

Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban has tested positive…again. The first time it was determined the test was likely a false positive, but this time the 68-year-old is showing symptoms. Those symptoms are mild at present so he’s isolating at home. Undefeated Alabama is to play Auburn Saturday.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Union, NM. Powell, MT. Foster, ND. Alpine, CA. Clearwater, ID. Prairie, MT. Fallon, MT. And Guadalupe, NM.

There are now 5,064,463 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, New York, and Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, New Mexico, and South Dakota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington, New Jersey, and Arizona. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Iowa, South Dakota, Illinois, Mississippi, and North Dakota.

There’ve been a total 262,177 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.08%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 193. Illinois 178. Ohio 156. Pennsylvania 145. California 104. Tennessee 92. Florida 91. Georgia and Michigan 76. And Minnesota 75.

Globally, there are 17,262,022 active cases.

There are 584,319 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 180,903. Brazil 45,449. India 44,699. Italy 25,853. And Russia 23,675.

There have now been 1,420,721 deaths worldwide. Up 20% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 25th, 2020.

There are now over 5 million active cases in the United States and over 17 million active cases around the world. More stats in a moment.

The CDC is finalizing plans to shorten the recommended length of quarantine for those exposed to Covid-19. The recommendation has been 14 days. It’s how long scientists thought it takes the virus to incubate. But now it’s believed that with testing that can shortened to 7-10 days.

In the UK, it’ll be the five days of Christmas. The government said families can gather in three-household groups of any size over Christmas, which are being called “Christmas bubbles.” People can travel freely from December 23 to 27 no matter what local tier of restrictions they live in. Then everything goes back to the way it was December 28.

If you live in a populous state, you’re getting the vaccine first. 6.4 million doses have been allocated to states based on total adult population. The CDC wanted it to go to high risk groups like health care workers, nursing home residents and factory workers, but the population approach is viewed as simpler.

An interesting problem. Plants that make items to protect against Covid closing because of Covid. Malaysia's Top Glove will close down 28 plants because the health ministry reported a sharp rise in cases in areas where those factories and crowded dorms are located.

Another thing we’re learning because of the pandemic, Americans can’t hear as well as they thought. If you have a hard time understanding people who are wearing a mask, it may not be because the mask muffles sound. It could be you relied a lot more on reading lips and faces than you thought. Hearing specialists across the U.S. have seen an uptick in visits.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Union, NM. Foster, ND. Alpine, CA. Clearwater, ID. Fallon, MT. Rooks, KS. Kearny, KS. And Marshall, KS.

There are now over 5 million active cases in the United States, at 5,052,032. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, and New York surpasses Maryland.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and New Mexico.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in New Mexico, New Hampshire, Washington, New Jersey, and Vermont. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are South Dakota, Iowa, Mississippi, Illinois, and North Dakota.

There’ve been a total 259,874 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.1%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 195. Michigan 154. Illinois 150. Missouri 138. California 107. Wisconsin 104. Indiana 103. Ohio 98. Pennsylvania 84. And Florida 74.

Globally, there are over 17 million active cases, at 17,135,218.

There are 528,385 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 175,047. India 44,276. Brazil 33,445. Russia 24,326. And Italy 23,232.

There have now been 1,407,542 deaths worldwide. Up 20% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 24th, 2020.

Vaccine number three. AstraZeneca said late-stage trials showed its vaccine developed by Oxford University is not only highly effective, but relatively cheap, and easy-to-store. The fact that it doesn’t have to be stored at freezer temperatures makes it a potential vaccine of choice in developing countries.

But while the vaccine news sounds good, doctors are telling the CDC everyone needs to be honest about the side effects people may experience after getting their first shot. The danger is that patients won’t come back for the second dose of two-dose vaccines due to side effects like high fever, body aches, bad headaches, daylong exhaustion and other symptoms.

Spiking cases in at least one New York City borough forced the re-opening of a field hospital not used since the early days of the pandemic. The temporary facility is at Staten Island University Hospital. It'll be able to hold up to 108 patients and could be expanded to 250 if needed.

Close to 700 nursing home workers walked off the job yesterday in Chicago. They won’t return to the 11 facilities unless the owners pay them at least $15/hour and assure them safer working conditions. The owners got $12.7 million in COVID-19 federal funding, but some CNAs say they only get one mask for a day’s work.

If you’re more concerned about climate than Covid, good news. EU officials say air quality significantly improved in European metropolitan areas because of lockdowns. For instance, nitrogen dioxide levels are down 59% in Barcelona, 47% in Madrid. 54% in Milan, and 39% in Rome. Western Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands also saw significant drops.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Foster, ND. Union, NM. Alpine, CA. Fallon, MT. Pierce, ND. Stutsman, ND. Kearny, KS. And Marshall, KS.

There are now 4,964,547 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, and New York. 

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in New Mexico, New Hampshire, Washington, Maine, and Vermont. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are Mississippi, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, and Illinois.

There’ve been a total 257,651 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.12%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 85. Michigan 65. Illinois 61. Texas 58. Kansas 46. California 45. New York and Connecticut 43. Washington 36. And Tennessee 35.

Globally, there are 16,957,420 active cases.

There are 527,205 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 172,103. India 37,410. Russia 25,173. Italy 22,930. And Brazil 16,603.

There have now been 1,395,519 deaths worldwide. Up 22% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 23rd, 2020.

The U.S. has seen more new cases already in November than any other month of the pandemic. More than 3 million new cases between November 1 and 22. At least 83,227 Covid-19 patients were hospitalized Saturday, the 12th straight day the US has broken its record for hospitalizations.

How bad is the hospital situation? A hospital in Indiana is so low on help it issued a public plea via Facebook for anyone with medical experience. The Mayo Clinic is bringing back retirees and moving researchers to patient care after 905 employees contracted the virus in the last two weeks. 18% of hospitals in the country reported a critical shortage of medical staff. In five states, more than a third of hospitals report critical staffing shortages.

The FDA has approved the antibody Covid treatment Regeneron for emergency use. The treatment combines two antibodies administered by IV. It’s only for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people 12 years and older who are at high risk of developing more severe symptoms.

In California, even outdoor dining at restaurants across Los Angeles County will shut down on Wednesday and stay shut down for at least three weeks. Cases have tripled in the state in just the last month.

For all the warnings and bans and lockdowns, Americans appear to be attempting to live life as usual. More than 2 million people were screened at U.S. airports Friday and Saturday. Which means they are traveling for Thanksgiving. The TSA says they’ve actually seen passenger volume go over 900,000 a day frequently since early October.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Union, NM. Foster, ND. Fallon, MT. Kearny, KS. Marshall, KS. Rawlins, KS. Pierce, ND. And Alfalfa, OK.

There are now 4,873,425 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland is back over Michigan, then New York.  

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in New Hampshire, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, and New Jersey. There are two states with a reproduction rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and, interestingly, South Dakota.

There’ve been a total 256,745 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related with a current national fatality rate of 2.14%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 99. Texas 77. Florida and Indiana 59. Tennessee 55. South Dakota 42. Minnesota 40. Pennsylvania 38. New Mexico 33. And Iowa 32.

Globally, there are 16,824,439 active cases.

There are 509,621 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 136,627. India 44,404. Italy 28,337. Russia 24,581. And the UK 18,662.

There have now been 1,386,465 deaths worldwide. Up 18% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 20th, 2020.

The CDC is now pleading with Americans do not travel and do not gather for Thanksgiving with people outside of your household. Not family…household. They are combatting pandemic fatigue; people getting tired of masks and other precautions. The CDC believes around 40% of people who are infected don’t have obvious symptoms but can still spread the virus.

California is imposing an overnight curfew for 94% of its residents from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Saturday. However, the virus must know not to hurt anyone in the movie business, because they have been made specially exempt. The state has deemed them essential workers.  

Mexico passed the 100,000 mark in COVID-19 deaths yesterday, becoming only the fourth country — behind the United States, Brazil and India — to do so. That comes after Mexico said it topped 1 million cases. Officials actually think that number is much higher due to low levels of testing.

The regional head of the World Health Organization said one person is dying from coronavirus every 17 seconds in Europe. ICU’s in France have been at 95%-plus capacity for 10 days and those in Switzerland are at full capacity.

The longer the pandemic goes on, the more you think you’ve heard it all. But top officials at a Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo, IA were suspended without pay. The reason? It’s alleged they were betting on how many of their workers would get infected. The answer, by the way, was more than 1,000 of the 2,800 workers, at least six of whom died.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Rawlins, KS. Stutsman, ND. Foster, ND. Johnson, NE. Fallon, MT. Jones, IA. Walsh, ND. And Pierce, ND.

There are now 4,568,891 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan overtakes Maryland, then Georgia.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Vermont, Washington, New Hampshire, New York, and Ohio. There is one state with a reproduction rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 252,514 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.19%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 226. Illinois 180. Michigan 144. Pennsylvania 104. California 97. Wisconsin 83. Tennessee 80. Florida and Colorado 79. And Minnesota and Alabama 72.

Globally, there are now more than 16 million active cases, at 16,145,453

There are 598,877 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 192,186. India 46,182. Italy 36,176. Brazil 35,686. And Poland 23,975.

There have now been 1,359,120 deaths worldwide. Up 25% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 19th, 2020.

The confirmed US death toll from coronavirus tops a quarter of a million and that’s the highest in world. More stats in a moment.

The FDA granted emergency authorization to the first at-home, self-testing rapid result kit. The Lucira COVID-19 All-In-One Test Kit is a molecular single-use nasal swab test and requires a prescription. Results come in 30 minutes or less and are shown on the light-up display.

Pfizer says new test results show its vaccine is actually 95% effective. They also say it’s safe and protects older people. The company can now seek emergency use of limited shot supplies. The first estimated effectiveness rate was 90%.

Weddings continue to be a problem where virus containment is concerned. A recent one in Ohio was attended by 83 people, nearly half of whom tested positive after. The bride, who was among the infected, said, “You're in the moment. You don't think about COVID anymore." And in the hotspot of Washington state, a wedding attended by over 300 people has been linked to nearly 40 cases so far. State restrictions say weddings should be limited to 30 people.

It’s an issue. Really. Glasses fogging up when you wear a mask. Popular Science published the top methods for fighting the fog and they include use a mask with an adjustable noseband, wash the lenses with soapy water and let air dry, wear a mask extender that tightens behind your head, use tissues as a buffer between your mask and nose, and their highest rated method - literally surgical tape the mask down on your nose.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Jones, TX. Lee, KY. Foster, ND. Rawlins, KS. Stutsman, ND. Gray, TX. Jones, IA. Pierce, ND. And Johnson, NE.

There are now 4,450,477 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, and Michigan surpasses Georgia.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, and Washington. There is one state with a reproduction rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 250,483 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.21%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 205. Illinois 151. California 112. Pennsylvania 110. Florida 87. Minnesota 67. Michigan 62. Kansas 60. Indiana 59. And Georgia 57.

Globally, there are now 15,853,798 active cases.

There are 528,852 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 173,632. India 45,439. Brazil 35,645. Italy 34,283. And France 28,383.

There have now been 1,348,348 deaths worldwide. Up 30% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 18th, 2020.

800 Philadelphia-area nurses walked off the job yesterday, apparently burned out from record hospitalizations. The point of the strike is to pressure their hospital into increasing staff. Their union has pushed for bills requiring hospitals to set limits on how many patients a nurse cares for in a day.

Similar concerns in Hungary as doctors there warn a lack of qualified ICU medical staff could lead to soaring deaths and a breakdown of the country’s health care system. The recent sharp rise in hospitalizations has led to a patient-to-doctor ratio of 20-to-1 in some ICUs.

An analysis from the Federation of American Scientists says North Dakota’s coronavirus mortality rate is the highest of any U.S. state or country. 18.2 deaths per 1 million people. South Dakota is close behind at 17.4 deaths per million, that’s the third-worst rate in the world.

The famous have gotten COVID, but so have the infamous. Doctors believe Harvey Weinstein, now an inmate in New York, has it. Sources say it’s anything but a mild case. He’s in isolation with a 101-degree temperature. And that’s on top of an existing heart condition, high blood pressure and spinal stenosis.  

You’ll have to get your beads another way this Mardi Gras. New Orleans officials say parades will not be allowed at next year’s festival in mid-February. While it may not look like it, Mardi Gras is actually a religious holiday, and thus can’t be completely canceled.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Jones, TX. Lee, KY. Foster, ND. Dewey, SD. Stutsman, ND. Pierce, ND. Gray, TX. Johnson, NE. And Dade, MO.

There are now 4,353,660 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Illinois, Florida, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, and Michigan.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Minnesota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Washington. There is one state with a reproduction rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 248,555 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.23%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 117. Illinois 113. Wisconsin 92. Indiana 89. Florida 86. Michigan 80. Tennessee 72. Missouri 56. Alabama 52. And Georgia 41.

Globally, there are now 15,636,601 active cases.

There are 536,653 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 157,261. India 38,532. Brazil 35,018. Italy 32,191. And Russia 22,410.

There have now been 1,336,892 deaths worldwide. Up 35% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 17th, 2020.

A second experimental vaccine — this one from Moderna — appears to be 94.5% effective, according to preliminary data. It, along with Pfizer’s vaccine, is on track to seek permission within weeks for emergency use in the U.S. Both require two shots, given several weeks apart.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is optimistic about vaccines but warns “it’s not going to be a light switch” back to normalcy. He recommends even after the vaccine gets distributed, people still wear masks and keep staying socially distant. This because even if the projected effectiveness rates are true, about 5% to 10% of people immunized could still get the virus.

And for now, the virus rages on, with new lockdowns and reimposed restrictions after a week that saw more than a million new cases in the U.S. reported. In Chicago, a sweeping stay-at-home advisory. In Philadelphia, new restrictions expected Monday. If the positive testing rate in New York public schools goes over 3% that system will close. North Dakota has ordered masks in all indoor businesses and any public settings where physical distancing isn't possible. A limited mask mandate in Iowa. In Oklahoma all state workers wear masks and tables in restaurants must be 6 feet apart, and they and bars must close at 11pm. And in California the Governor is shutting down indoor activities for 94% of the state.

What if the answer to COVID has always been on our bathroom counter? A study out of Cardiff University said mouthwashes that have at least .07% of an incredient called CDC shows promising signs of combatting the virus. But don’t go stock up on Scope just yet. The study has yet to be peer reviewed and you’d have to use the mouthwash within 30 seconds of being exposed to the virus.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Jones, TX. Foster, ND. Dewey, SD. Stutsman, ND. Gray, TX. Johnson, NE. Walsh, ND. And Calhoun, IA.

There are now 4,266,102 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, then Michigan.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Minnesota.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Alaska. There is one state with a reproduction rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 247,175 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.25%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 78. Michigan 55. Illinois and Arkansas 42. California 39. Florida 38. New York 36. Colorado 32. South Carolina 31. And Tennessee 30.

Globally, there are now 15,525,843 active cases.

There are 493,236 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 162,149. India 28,555. Italy 27,354. Russia 22,778. And the U.K. 21,363.

There have now been 1,326,449 deaths worldwide. Up 34% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 16th, 2020.

Tighter restriction across the country. In Indiana, no gatherings over 50 allowed, in some counties the cap is 25. And there’s a mask mandate. Washington state bans all indoor social gatherings outside of those you live with and bans indoor service at restaurants and bars. Retail businesses, including grocery, must limit to 25% of capacity. Non-essential businesses must close entirely.

Los Angeles is considering a curfew after a fresh surge of cases this weekend. New cases topped 3,000 for two consecutive days. Saturday was the highest one-day total since the peak in mid-July. The county remains in the strictest tier of California’s reopening plan, so many businesses must stay closed for indoor operations.

Germany’s Economy Minister said that country should brace for another 4-5 months of severe restrictions and not expect the rules to ease up quickly. It’s not what many wanted to hear. German police fired water cannons during an anti-lockdown rally in Frankfurt Saturday and broke up the gathering.

You don’t want to be an inmate anyway, but especially during a pandemic. The University of Texas reports at least 231 people in Texas prisons and jails have died from COVID. Nine of the inmates who died were already approved for parole and awaiting release. And in county jails, 80% of those who died had not even been convicted yet of a crime.

The CDC has made recommendations on how to have a safe Thanksgiving but a survey shows almost 40% of Americans are going to spend it with at least 10 other people, and more than one-third will not ask guests to wear masks. 27% don’t plan to practice social distancing before or after Thanksgiving dinner.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Crowley, CO. Lee, KY. Jones, TX. Dewey, SD. Foster, ND. Stutsman, ND. Jones, IA. Toole, MT. Calhoun, IA. And Gray, TX.

There are now 4,178,917 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Missouri surpasses Virginia, Maryland overtakes Georgia, then New York.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and New York. There are two states with a reproduction rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and Alabama.

There’ve been a total 246,206 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.28%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 74. North Carolina 50. Massachusetts 36. Pennsylvania 32. Minnesota 31. Florida 30. Arkansas 24. South Dakota 23. Indiana 22. And New York and Colorado with 21.

Globally, there are now 15,352,620 active cases.

There are 487,083 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours against a high of 656,099 on November 12.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 138,249. Italy 33,979. India 30,715. France 27,228. And the U.K. 24,962.

There have now been 1,316,623 deaths worldwide. Up 35% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 13th, 2020.

More restrictions for Chicago. A 10-person limit any social gatherings and Mayor Lori Lightfoot said, “cancel the normal Thanksgiving plans.” Indoor dining was already banned, now residents are urged to not go out for anything other than essentials possibly for 30 days. A month ago, Chicago was reporting 500 daily cases on average. Now, the city is averaging roughly 1,900 daily cases.

The CDC is projecting 260,000 to 282,000 coronavirus deaths by December 5. Another widely-used Covid-19 model run by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation is predicting 438,941 deaths by March 1. And that’s if states do not relax restrictions and mask mandates.

Massachusetts was seen as a model for infection control this summer. But deaths there have now surpassed 10,000. Massachusetts has the sixth-highest death toll in the U.S. behind New York, Texas, California, New Jersey and Florida. And California has become the second state in the U.S. to top one million cumulative Covid cases a week after Texas hit that mark.

A CDC report tells us disruptions to daily life, anxiety about getting Covid-19, and social isolation are taking a toll on children's mental health. From the middle of March to October, the proportion of ER visits related to children's mental health rose dramatically for school-aged children and adolescents compared to the previous year. Those 12-17 seem to have been hit hardest.

The rule at Costco is everyone has to wear a mask, but some people won’t, citing medical reasons that they can’t. Some even have official-looking cards that say they don’t have to. But the company has now said if you can’t wear a mask for medical reasons, fine. But you’ll have to wear a face shield instead.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Childress, TX. Jones, TX. Jones, IA. Calhoun, IA. Eddy, ND. Dewey, SD. Norton, KS. Toole, MT. Gray, TX. And Walsh, ND.

There are now 3,897,231 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Illinois overtakes Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Maryland, and Michigan and New York surpass Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, New York, Minnesota, and Washington. There is one state with a reproduction rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 242,622 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.35%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 157. Florida 77. Georgia 75. Wisconsin 58. Pennsylvania 57. Indiana 51. Michigan 49. Illinois 48. And Minnesota and Louisiana with 39.

Globally, there are now 14,576,345 active cases.

There are 618,441 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours and that is a new all-time record high.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 161,541. India 43,861. Italy 37,978. Brazil 34,640. And the U.K. 33,470.

There have now been 1,291,937 deaths worldwide. Up 37% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 12th, 2020.

Texas became America's first state with more than 1 million cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases. In the state, sporting events are being canceled and El Paso is adding mobile morgues in anticipation of deaths to come. Texas recorded more than 10,800 new cases Tuesday, a new daily record.

Another milestone, the U.K. yesterday became the fifth country to record more than 50,000 coronavirus-related deaths at 50,365. And that figure could be low. The total does not include those who died of COVID-related symptoms after 28 days.

Russia not to be outdone after Pfizer’s vaccine news. Developers of their Sputnik V experimental vaccine say their early data from a large trial suggests it appears to be 92% effective. It’s a two-shot vaccine touted as the world's first to get the go ahead from a government, which it got without completing advanced testing.

According to a Gallup poll, 49% of Americans say they’d be very likely to stay home for a month if health officials recommended another total lockdown. Sounds like a lot, but it’s actually way down from 67% who said that in late March and early April. A full third said they’d be very or somewhat unlikely to comply.

When will people be able to go to concerts again? Ticketmaster is trying to figure that out. They’re developing a plan for event operators. One idea, syncing attendees’ COVID vaccine status or test results from healthcare providers to their digital tickets before they’ll be allowed entry. Ticketmaster stressed it would not have access to customers’ medical records.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Childress, TX. Jones, IA. Calhoun, IA. Norton, KS. Eddy, ND. Walsh, ND. Toole, MT. Dewey, SD. Cavalier, ND. And Hodgeman, KS.

There are now 3,812,554 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, New York, Illinois, and Iowa. There are two states with a reproduction rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and North Carolina.

There’ve been a total 241,047 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.37%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 153. Texas 120. Tennessee 89. Alabama 81. Georgia 76. Ohio 68. Wisconsin and Pennsylvania 62. Minnesota 58. And Florida 48.

Globally, there are now 14,467,039 active cases.

There are 566,757 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours compared to a high of 605,573 on November 5.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 142,808. India 48,285. Brazil 47,724. France 35,879. And Italy 32,961.

There have now been 1,282,184 deaths worldwide. Up 41% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 11th, 2020.

The U.S. hit a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations yesterday and surpassed 1 million new cases in just the first 10 days of November. The new wave appears bigger and more widespread than spring and summer. But it’s also believed the nation is now better able to deal with the virus.

The top health official for Toronto says the spread has never been greater so she’s ordering the complete prohibition of indoor dining to continue. And six weeks after reopening, San Francisco is also shutting down indoor dining. Cases there have skyrocketed 250%.

Tragic news about those who survive Covid-19. An Oxford study says almost 20% of survivors are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder within three months of testing positive. The most frequent disorders are anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

The CDC said wearing a mask not only protects others from the spread of Covid-19, it protects the wearer too. It’s their strongest messaging yet on face coverings. The CDC also said that "adopting universal masking policies can help avert future lockdowns."

The CDC also gave its most robust guidelines yet for how Americans should celebrate Thanksgiving. The preference is that you do so only with people in your household. But if you must have others over, everyone should wear full fitting masks and stay distant from each other. Other suggestions: have people bring their own plate, cups, and utensils, have single-use condiment packages, and eat outside.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Childress, TX. Jones, IA. Toole, MT. Calhoun, IA. Norton, KS. Eddy, ND. Walsh, ND. Cavalier, ND. Dewey, SD. And Buffalo, SD.

There are now 3,712,054 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Nebraska.

The reproduction rate is currently highest in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Oregon, and Nebraska. There are three states with a reproduction rate below 1 and they are Mississippi, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

There’ve been a total 239,618 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.38%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 123. Michigan 84. Illinois 82. Florida 74. Indiana 67. Wisconsin 66. California 65. Tennessee 62. Pennsylvania 58. And Georgia 53.

Globally, there are now over 14 million active cases, at 14,134,026.

There are 518,563 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours compared to a high of 605,573 on November 5.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 135,574. India 44,679. Italy 35,098. Brazil 25,517. And Poland 25,454.

There have now been 1,270,167 deaths worldwide. Up 39% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 10th, 2020.

Pfizer said its vaccine may be 90% effective. The tests are early and incomplete. They’ll next apply later this month for emergency-use FDA approval. If that goes well, the vaccine could arrive before the end of the year.

Speaking of the FDA, it cleared emergency use of the first antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19. The experimental drug is from Eli Lilly and for people 12 and older with mild or moderate cases not requiring hospitalization. It's a one-time treatment given through an IV.

The final-stage trial of a Chinese frontrunner vaccine candidate was halted in Brazil due to a serious adverse event. Brazil will not say what that adverse event was. Vaccines from China, including the one in question, have already been given to hundreds of thousands of people under an expansive emergency use approval.

Masks are now required in Utah. The Governor declared a state of emergency and ordered the mandate to stem a surge in hospitalizations. Masks must be worn in public, at work and any time citizens are within 6 feet of anyone who doesn’t live with them. The Governor said the debate about freedom to not wear a mask is over.

And New York is exercising a way to punish private businesses that don’t follow coronavirus restrictions. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said a Long Island country club’s liquor license was suspended because it hosted a wedding linked to 34 cases.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Childress, TX. Norton, KS. Jones, IA. Toole, MT. Calhoun, IA. Eddy, ND. Walsh, ND. Cavalier, ND. Dewey, SD. And Hodgeman, KS.

There are now 3,624,898 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Texas surpasses Virginia, Missouri, Georgia, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Illinois.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, Iowa, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and North Carolina.

There’ve been a total 238,202 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.41%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 58. Texas 44. Indiana 35. New York and Michigan 32. Georgia 29. California and West Virginia 28. Connecticut 27. And Illinois 25.

Globally, there are 13,921,320 active cases.

There are 485,142 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours compared to a high of 605,573 on November 5.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 125,689. India 37,211. Italy 25,271. Russia 21,798. And Poland 21,713.

There have now been 1,262,413 deaths worldwide. Up 39% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 9th, 2020.

The United States heads for close to 10 million cumulative coronavirus cases, with over 9.9 million reported cases as of last night according to Johns Hopkins data. All the numbers are going up; cases, hospitalizations, and daily deaths. Texas alone is inching toward 1 million total cases. Sixteen states reported record high hospitalizations Friday.

In Germany, resistance to “lockdown light.” Officials condemned the actions of 20,000 people who demonstrated against restrictions in a Leipzig city square, most without wearing masks. An investigation has been called for to determine how the protest was able to get out of control.

For an example of increasing control, look no further than Greece. That country is not only under a nationwide lockdown, those who live there must text authorities if they want to leave their homes for any reason. They must provide their name, address and why they need to go out.

Students attending any of New York’s public universities in the spring will be required to quarantine at home for a week first and be tested for COVID-19, either at home or on campus. Classes will start later than usual, Feb. 1, and spring break has been eliminated. Graduation plans even for the Class of 2021 are anticipating having to be virtual.

Vermont has regularly been near the top of the list of states with the highest virus retransmission rates, but ski season is coming, and the slopes will be open. For Vermont, it’s a $1.6 billion business. There are restrictions, which potential visitors are already complaining about. But from Sept. 1 through Nov. 4, the number of confirmed cases in the state has risen more than 38%.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Childress, TX. Norton, KS. Jones, IA. Eddy, ND. Calhoun, IA. Walsh, ND. Toole, MT. Cavalier, ND. Hodgeman, KS. And Potter, SD.

There are now 3,561,292 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Illinois jumps to number 4, Virginia, Texas, Missouri surpasses Georgia, then Maryland and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Maine with a very high rate of 1.52, then Iowa, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Illinois. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and North Carolina.

There’ve been a total 237,566 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.43%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 50. Texas and Indiana 39. Minnesota 31. Missouri 24. Florida and South Carolina 21. And New York, Louisiana, and Massachusetts all with 20.

Globally, there are now over 13 million active cases at 13,675,944.

There are 574,394 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours compared to a high of 605,573 on November 5.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 102,726. India 46,661. France 38,619. Italy 32,616. And Poland 24,785.  

There have now been 1,255,489 deaths worldwide. Up 35% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 6th, 2020.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has in the past said expect a “whole lot of pain” going into the winter months of the pandemic. Now he’s gotten more specific. It’s smaller cities who should be on guard, especially in the northwest and central U.S. This mostly because they lack the resources and experience with the virus larger city hospitals have. Example, El Paso, TX, where hospitalizations have tripled in a little over two weeks.

The National Health Service in England has gone to its highest alert level. That means staff can be moved around the country, and patients can be sent to other regions for treatment if local services are overwhelmed.

A Missouri elections supervisor who knew they tested positive and worked at a polling site on Election Day anyway has died. It’s unclear what caused the death, but the positive test was on Oct. 30 and the official failed to isolate for the recommended two-week period.

The CDC says health care workers will almost certainly get the first doses of any COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. once approved. Not just doctors and nurses, but even support personnel. It’s expected those first vaccine doses will roll out in December or early January.

However, while the world waits for a vaccine, the world is also increasingly saying, they won’t take it. A World Economic Forum survey shows the number of people globally saying they would get the vaccine is actually dropping. Across 15 countries, intent is down 4 points to 73% since August.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Luce, MI. Norton, KS. Toole, MT. Bon Homme, SD. Walsh, ND. Cavalier, ND. Wells, ND. Potter, SD. Ellsworth, KS. And San Saba, TX.

There are now 3,338,097 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Texas surpasses Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Montana.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska. There is only one state with a retransmission rate below 1 and that is Mississippi. 

There’ve been a total 234,911 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.49%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 126. Illinois 97. Georgia 56. Michigan 51. California 48. Indiana 47. Florida and Pennsylvania 42. North Carolina 41. And Wisconsin 38.

Globally, there are now 12,797,974 active cases.

There are 589,701 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, which sets another new record one day high.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 118,204. France 58,046. India 47,622. Italy 34,505. And Poland 27,143. 

There have now been 1,232,214 deaths worldwide. Up 31% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 5th, 2020.

Only nine ICU beds were available in Minnesota’s Twin Cities yesterday morning. Plus, nurses and other caregivers can’t work because they are infected or under required quarantines. COVID-19 ICU admissions have doubled since late September but aren’t taking up most of the beds. They still only make up 18% of ICU usage.

Italy’s latest restrictions include a partial lockdown of the region around Milan. The country has been divided into three zones - red, orange and yellow, according to the intensity of the epidemic. In red zones, citizens can only leave home for work, health reasons or emergencies, and bars, restaurants and most shops are closed.

Greece is facing a universal month-long lockdown as a spike in cases hits new records. It will be their second and could be in place as early as tomorrow.

Health officials in South Korea have approved a new test that apparently detects COVID-19 and seasonal influenza from the same samples. Those illnesses are hard to tell apart based on symptoms, so having a diagnosis for both in three to six hours is expected to lighten the burden on medical workers.

A Texas veterinarian is just one of many who’ve been tracking the spread of COVID in pets. Dr. Sarah Hamer has swabbed not just dogs and cats, but hamsters and guinea pigs. She’s found at least 19 cases of infection. Nationwide, cats and dogs who caught it from sick owners represent 80% of positive cases.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Luce, MI. Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Ellsworth, KS. Toole, MT. San Saba, TX. Wells, ND. Sheridan, KS. Potter, SD. And Walsh, ND.

There are now 3,269,507 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Illinois overtakes Missouri, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Montana.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Maine, Vermont, Minnesota, Iowa, and Rhode Island. There is only one state with a retransmission rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.  

There’ve been a total 233,633 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.50%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 150. California 67. Illinois 55. Wisconsin 54. North Carolina 50. Missouri 44. Georgia and Ohio 43. Florida 42. And Pennsylvania 41.

Globally, there are now 12,271,877 active cases.

There are 491,692 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 550,012 on October 30.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States crosses the 100,000 cases in one day mark with 108,389. India 50,465. France 40,558. Italy 30,550. And the U.K. 25,177.  

There have now been 1,224,144 deaths worldwide. Up 24% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 4th, 2020.

The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 is reaching record highs in a growing number of states. Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, Nebraska, North Dakota and New Mexico all reported record high hospitalizations this week. Nebraska’s largest hospitals started limiting elective surgeries. Officials in Iowa and Missouri warned bed capacity could soon be overwhelmed.

In a departure from its less strict approach to the pandemic, Sweden announced new restrictions. People must work from home if possible, avoid indoor spaces, and only have physical contact with people in the same household.  

50% effective in preventing or reducing the severity of the coronavirus, that’s the bar the FDA says a vaccine has to reach. No vaccine is 100% effective, but even at 50%, experts say it could help. Even the flu vaccine’s effectiveness varies from year to year, from 20 to 60%.

A study out of Mount Sinai says almost 20% of New York City residents were infected with Covid. That’s about 1.7 million people. The same study shows its fatality rate is 10 times deadlier than the flu. The testing found positive cases going back to February, suggesting that New Yorkers were infected with Covid-19 weeks before its first reported case.

The celebrity infection of the day is…Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. The Denver Broncos said their president of football operations and general manager is experiencing mild symptoms. Elway is quarantining at home.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Ellsworth, KS. Wallace, KS. San Saba, TX. Wells, ND. Sheridan, KS. Walsh, ND. Potter, SD. And Bennett, SD.

There are now 3,217,717 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Maryland, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Wyoming.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Vermont, Wyoming, Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Iowa. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and North Carolina.  

There’ve been a total 232,553 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.51%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 92. Tennessee 75. Illinois 68. North Carolina 67. California 60. Florida 55. Wisconsin 52. Indiana 49. Michigan 45. And Arizona 38.

Globally, there are now 12,271,877 active cases.

There are 508,190 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 550,012 on October 30.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 94,463. India 46,033. France 36,330. Italy 28,244. And the U.K. 20,018.  

There have now been 1,212,844 deaths worldwide. Up 25% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 3rd, 2020. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports more than 61,000 children in the U.S. were diagnosed with Covid-19 last week — more than any other week during the pandemic. 853,635 children have been diagnosed this year, representing 11.1% of all U.S. cases. 

One struggling world hot spot is Belgium. Strict new lockdowns are in place, and many hospitals are overwhelmed. In one city between one-fifth and one-quarter of medical staff were sick or quarantining, and even those who are positive but asymptomatic are being told to show up for work.

Germany began a month-long partial shutdown yesterday. Restaurants, bars, theaters, and other leisure facilities have been shut down. It’s considered lockdown light because, schools, non-essential shops and hairdressers are allowed to stay open. The government said last week authorities currently cannot trace the source of three-quarters of infections.

A non-peer-reviewed study by the UK coronavirus immunology consortium suggests T-cell immunity against the virus is likely to stay in most adults six months after primary infection. Plus, levels of T-cell immunity are higher in patients with symptoms.

Want job security? Become a nurse. Medical administrators are having trouble finding them and it’s gotten very competitive between hospitals. We’re talking signing bonuses of $15,000 and pay in some places going up to $5,000/week. Contract nurses willing to travel are in particularly hot demand. 

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Norton, KS. San Saba, TX. Buffalo, SD. Wells, ND. Wallace, KS. Ellsworth, KS. Carter, MT. Sheridan, KS. And Bennett, SD. 

There are now 3,159,144 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Texas overtakes Georgia, Missouri, Illinois overtakes Maryland, and Alabama. 

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are South Dakota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Wyoming.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Wyoming, Rhode Island, Vermont, Iowa, and Connecticut. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and Florida.  

There’ve been a total 231,510 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.53%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 48. Florida 41. Ohio 37. Iowa and Arkansas 27. Tennessee and Indiana 26. California 22. And Illinois and Georgia 18. 

Globally, there are now over 12 million active cases, at 12,073,379.

There are 477,107 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 550,012 on October 30.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 88,905. France 52,518. India 37,592. Italy 22,253. And Switzerland 21,926.  

There have now been 1,205,221 deaths worldwide. Up 26% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for November 2nd, 2020.

If some in England were upset about a new one-month lockdown, they won’t be pleased to hear it may go longer than that. So says a Cabinet minister. Britain has the worst virus death toll in Europe, with more than 46,700 dead. It passed 1 million confirmed cases Saturday. Owners of pubs, restaurants, theaters, and gyms all say the lockdown will be devastating.

Across all of Europe, new cases have doubled in five weeks to over 10 million total infections. Last month, Latin America and Asia also reported over 10 million total cases in their regions. It took Europe almost nine months to record its first 5 million cases, but the next 5 million took place in just over one month.

In Slovakia, they feel mass testing is the answer and that’s exactly what they’ve done. Swabs from more than two and half million people were taken this weekend, that’s about half the country’s entire population. It took 40,000 medics at about 5,000 sites. The testing was voluntary. But those who decline must go into self-isolation or face fines.

A CDC report suggests getting the virus from someone you live with can be quick and easy, regardless of age. 53% of participants living with someone who tested positive wound up sick themselves within 5 days.

Add Prince William to the list of celebrities who have battled COVID-19. He says he “struggled to breathe” after being struck down. He kept the diagnosis a secret because he didn’t want to alarm the nation. He caught it in April days after his dad, Prince Charles, and Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, tested positive.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Norton, KS. Buffalo, SD. San Saba, TX. Elliott, KY. Wallace, KS. Ellsworth, KS. Sheridan, KS. Dewey, SD. And Wells, ND.

There are now over 3 million active cases in the United States at 3,133,835. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Alaska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming, Connecticut, and Iowa. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and Florida.  

There’ve been a total 230,967 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.55%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Illinois 35. Texas and Arkansas 33. Indiana 32. Florida 27. Massachusetts 22. New York 19. Minnesota 18. Wisconsin 16. And Mississippi 14.

Globally, there are now 11,850,938 active cases.

There are 407,978 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 550,012 on October 30.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 71,321. India 46,441. France 46,290. Italy 29,907. And the U.K. 23,254.  

There have now been 1,199,684 deaths worldwide. Up 19% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 30th, 2020.

The number of new cases around the world in the last 24 hours surpasses a half a million and sets a new record. More stats in a moment.

Research which has not yet been peer reviewed shows a variant of the coronavirus believed to have originated in Spain has spread across Europe and is accounting for most of the new cases in that region. The variant has increased from “very low” values prior to July 15 to 40 to 70% in Switzerland, Ireland, and the U.K. in September. It’s also prevalent in Norway, Latvia, the Netherlands, and France.

Speaking of France, doctors there are relieved and business owners in despair as that country prepares to lock down for a month. COVID patients now fill 60% of French intensive care units, and France is reporting tens of thousands of new cases daily.

India’s cumulative coronavirus caseload surpassed 8 million yesterday, even though daily infections dipped to the lowest level this week. India’s overall trajectory is moving toward the worst-hit country, the United States, which has over 8.8 million cases.

In Michigan restaurants it’ll be “can I take your order and get your phone number?” Starting Monday, a new policy requires restaurants to get the names and numbers of customers for tracking in case of COVID-19 outbreaks.

Take your pick, making it easy for citizens to vote or COVID safety. Hundreds of polling places in Iowa have been closed, reportedly due to the pandemic. Overall, this affects some 670,000 Iowans, 30% of the state's registered voters.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Elliott, KY. Carter, MT. Buffalo, SD. Okfuskee, OK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Norton, KS. Wallace, KS. Oglala Lakota, SD. And Ellsworth, KS.

There are 2,995,245 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Virginia overtakes Georgia, Texas, Missouri, Maryland, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Wyoming, Vermont, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and New Mexico. There are two states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi and Oklahoma.  

There’ve been a total 228,647 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.59%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 113. Florida 82. Illinois 56. Wisconsin 51. Georgia and Michigan 47. Missouri 46. North Carolina and Pennsylvania 38. And Indiana 33.

Globally, there are now 11,142,220 active cases.

There are 505,367 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, and that sets a new all-time high.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 91,530. India 49,281. France 47,637. Italy 26,831. And Brazil 26,647.  

There have now been 1,180,277 deaths worldwide. Up 17% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 29th, 2020.

It’s a full nationwide lockdown for France. And in Germany, it’s “lockdown lite,” a partial four-week lockdown and the first curfew in Berlin in 70 years. The World Health Organization says the European region, which includes Russia, Turkey, Israel, and Central Asia, accounted for almost half the new cases reported globally last week. Virus-related deaths were also on the rise in Europe, with about a 35% spike from the previous week.

The U.S. government issued rules for insurance coverage to ensure every American will have access to free COVID-19 vaccines once approved. Workplace and individual insurance plans will cover the vaccine as a preventive service, with no cost sharing. Those vaccinating the uninsured will be paid through a federal fund.

Cause to celebrate, safely, in Melbourne, Australia. The country’s second-largest city has emerged from one of the world’s longest, most severe lockdowns yesterday. It lasted 111 days, but no new infections were recorded Monday. So yesterday, thousands of stores, cafes, restaurants, and beauty salons reopened.

On the flipside, one of the last nations on Earth to never have had one coronavirus infection, has lost that honor. Two cases were confirmed on the remote Marshall Islands. Both were workers on a US military base.

The Dodgers clinched the World Series. But not before it was learned during the seventh inning third baseman Justin Turner tested positive. He was pulled from the game and put in isolation, but when the team won, he joined his team on the field for the celebration.  

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Norton, KS. Elliott, KY. Okfuskee, OK. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Carter, MT. Buffalo, SD. Oglala Lakota, SD. Eddy, ND. And Faulk, SD.

There are 2,954,409 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Texas overtakes Missouri, then Maryland, and Illinois overtakes Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Vermont, Wyoming, Rhode Island, Minnesota, and New Mexico. There is only one state with a retransmission rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 227,673 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.61%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 97. Florida 64. California 63. Illinois 51. Wisconsin 45. Massachusetts 36. North Carolina, Tennessee, and South Carolina with 34. And Indiana 33.

Globally, there are now 10,845,371 active cases.

There are 452,310 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 on October 23.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 81,581. India 49,912. France 36,437. Brazil 28,852. And Italy 24,991.

There have now been 1,173,270 deaths worldwide. Up 16% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 28th, 2020.

A CDC survey says more Americans are wearing masks than early last spring, but young people are least likely to do that or take the other steps suggested to slow spread of the virus. Up to 89% of Americans are now wearing masks. But other behaviors like hand washing and distancing just aren’t being embraced, with 18 to 29-year-olds less likely to take any measure at all.

As high as mask usage is, apparently not so much in the hot spot of North Dakota. Dr. Deborah Birx met with state and local officials there and said mask usage is inadequate. She said, “This is the least use of masks we’ve seen in retail establishments of any place we’ve been." It’s one of 15 states that has no mask mandate.

A place that has no problem enforcing a mask mandate, Russia. Vladimir Putin instituted a nationwide mask mandate yesterday. They are required in crowded public spaces including public transit, parking lots and elevators. Bars and restaurants are also closed between 11pm and 6am.

In Chicago, you’ll have to get your deep dish pizza to go. Illinois’ Governor banned indoor dining and bar services and limited the number of people who can gather in any one place. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the new restrictions aren’t targeting the right people.

You may want to eat more sardines. Researchers in Spain found 82% of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 were clinically deficient in vitamin D. Experts point out that despite the study, it cannot be concluded vitamin D deficiency is responsible for higher chances of being hospitalized with Covid-19.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Norton, KS. Elliott, KY. Okfuskee, OK. Buffalo, SD. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Oglala Lakota, SD. Faulk, SD. Carter, MT. And Big Horn, MT.

There are 2,927,982 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Texas overtakes Maryland, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Wyoming, Rhode Island, Vermont, Colorado, and Illinois. There are three states with a retransmission rate below 1 and they are Mississippi, North Carolina, and Maine.

There’ve been a total 226,613 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.62%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 78. Texas 74. Wisconsin 64. Missouri 54. Florida 53. Indiana 51. Illinois 46. Tennessee 44. North Carolina 41. And Michigan 33.

Globally, there are now over 10,620,603 active cases.

There are 452,983 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 October 23.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 75,072. India 42,965. France 33,417. Brazil 29,353. And the U.K. 22,885.

There have now been 1,165,455 deaths worldwide. Up 12% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 27th, 2020.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports children account for 11% of all Covid-19 cases in the US, and that is a 14% increase over the past two weeks. About 792,188 children have been infected in the US as of October 22, with children representing between 1 and 3.6% of total hospitalizations, depending on the state.

The National Institutes of Health stopped a trial of Eli Lilly’s monoclonal antibody being tested in late stage hospitalized COVID patients, deciding it was unlikely to help. A similar trial in patients at an earlier stage of virus continues. Lilly says the drug’s not dangerous, just not effective in advanced patients.

In many U.S. states, hospitalizations are on the rise. In Texas, some critical care patients at hospitals in El Paso are being airlifted to other medical facilities to cope with hospital capacity. Wisconsin hospital beds are at 82% capacity. Utah, a record number of patients in ICU, with 111 of 314 COVID-19 patients in intensive care. North Dakota has around 14% of bed capacity left available. Tennessee has 18% left. And in Wyoming, COVID hospitalizations peaked Sunday at 104.

If you’re counting on contact tracing to help with the pandemic, maybe don’t. In New Jersey, 58% of people called refuse to cooperate with contact tracers who reach out to them.

Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, world scientists are asking, where did the flu go? Data collected by the World Health Organization in the Southern Hemisphere, where the flu season happens earlier, shows that in Australia, cases dropped 96%. In South Africa, there were only two cases, then none. Globally, it’s estimated rates of flu may have plunged 98% this year. There are several theories as to why but no one fully embraced answer.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Elliott, KY. Okfuskee, OK. Faulk, SD. Kusilvak Census Area, AK. Oglala Lakota, SD. Buffalo, SD. Menominee, WI. And Carter, MT.

There are 2,897,914 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming, New Jersey, and Colorado. There is now only one state with a retransmission rate below 1 and that is Mississippi.

There’ve been a total 225,689 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.63%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 52. California 43. Tennessee 32. Washington 31. Michigan 30. South Carolina and Arkansas 21. Florida 19. Georgia 18. And Illinois, Louisiana, and Massachusetts all with 17.

Globally, there are now 10,432,419 active cases.

There are 402,994 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 on October 23.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 69,841. India 36,838. France 26,771. The U.K. 20,890. And Switzerland 17,440.

There have now been 1,158,882 deaths worldwide. Up 2% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 26th, 2020.

The U.S. has seen its highest ever number of new COVID-19 cases in the past two days, as close aides to the Vice President have tested positive. Hospitalizations are also rising and have hit a two-month high. El Paso, Texas asked residents to stay home for two weeks as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in that area tripled.

Europe reported more than 1.3 million new cases this past week, its highest single week count ever. The Spanish Prime Minister declared a national state of emergency yesterday, with a nighttime curfew and possible travel restrictions between regions. Italy imposed the harshest new measures since its lockdown in the spring. And the President of Poland and Prime Minister of Bulgaria have tested positive.

New York Sunday became the fourth state to surpass half a million coronavirus cases amid a nationwide surge. 80% more cases in the past four weeks compared to the previous four weeks. Still, although the state has reported 2,000 new daily cases twice recently, that’s far from their record of 12,847 new cases April 10.

When it comes to superspreader events, it appears to be weddings that are earning that moniker. Party and event planners say business is picking up. Weddings are slowly resuming across the country. Website The Knot says 52% of couples were postponing in April but that has dropped to 35%. Minnesota last week identified 77 cases directly linked to one wedding in late August. And in Maine, there were 178 cases and eight deaths linked to an August 7 wedding and reception last week.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Okfuskee, OK. Faulk, SD. Harding, SD. Oglala Lakota, SD. Carter, MT. Menominee, WI. Sheridan, KS. And the Kusilvak Census Area, AK.

There are 2,886,171 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Colorado, and Alabama. There are now only 3 states with a retransmission rate below 1. They are Mississippi, Florida, and Maine.

There’ve been a total 225,215 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.65%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Missouri 95. Texas 40. Tennessee 31. Massachusetts 25. Illinois 24. Minnesota 21. Louisiana 17. Arkansas 15. North Carolina 13. And California and Indiana 12.  

Globally, there are now over 10 million active cases, at 10,268,529.

There are 372,220 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 499,200 October 23.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 60,889. France 52,010. India 45,158. Italy 21,273. And the UK 19,790.

There have now been 1,152,773 deaths worldwide. Flat over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 23rd, 2020.

They were in a hybrid reopening phase, but now school districts in Boston and Chicago have sent students home for all virtual learning. The big reason, spikes in nearby suburbs. This after San Francisco public school officials decided not to bring students back before the end of the calendar year.

The FDA approved the first drug to treat COVID-19, and it’s Remdesivir, an antiviral medicine given to patients through an IV. A large study led by the NIH showed the drug cut the time to recovery by five days. It works by inhibiting a substance the virus uses to copy itself.

Spain and France each surpassed 1 million confirmed coronavirus cases this week. Europe is battling outbreaks and record numbers throughout the continent. Spain and France now have the sixth and seventh highest global counts, respectively.

France announced a vast extension of the nightly curfew it already had in place, saying “the second wave is here.” The curfew is being extended from eight regions of France to 38 more regions and Polynesia. And it will probably last at least six weeks.

If you must travel somewhere, Costa Rica is a possibility. Starting October 26th, they’ll eliminate the negative coronavirus test requirement for foreign tourists. You also wouldn’t have to quarantine upon entering. You will, however, still need to buy travel medical insurance from one of two Costa Rican companies and complete the Health Pass epidemiological form.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Miner, SD. Harding, SD. Faulk, SD. Sheridan, KS. Carter, MT. Foster, ND. Menominee, WI. And Webster, NE.

There are 2,777,969 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey, Rhode Island, Colorado, Vermont, and Ohio. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Maine, Delaware, California, and Oregon.

There’ve been a total 223,000 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.7%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 92. California 71. Florida 63. North Carolina 50. South Carolina 47. Michigan 46. Illinois and Indiana 44. Tennessee 41. And Ohio 39.

Globally, there are 9,664,738 active cases.

There are 443,907 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, and that sets another new all time high.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 74,301. India 54,482. France 41,622. Brazil 31,985. And the UK 21,242.

There have now been 1,135,880 deaths worldwide. Down 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 22nd, 2020.

A volunteer in Brazil participating in a clinical trial of AstraZeneca’s vaccine died. However, the 28-year-old medic did not get the vaccine. He was given the placebo. It’s  not known how exactly he contracted the virus but he died from complications during the trial, which is continuing.

How close is too close? The CDC has redefined what counts as close contact. It was a straight 15 minutes within 6 feet of someone who’s positive. Now it’s a total of 15 minutes or more — meaning shorter but repeated contacts adding up to 15 minutes over 24-hours. The change serves notice the virus can spread more easily than many people realize.

Coronavirus hospitalizations are now on the rise in 38 states, Particularly concerning is the rise in Wisconsin. Hospitalizations there have more than tripled over the last month. And, doctors say patients are coming in with noticeably more severe symptoms than at the beginning of the pandemic.

Spain became the first country in western Europe to accumulate more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 infections. And they’re struggling to contain a resurgence. They’re beginning to close borders to hard hit regions but are trying to avoid a second devastating total lockdown.

An Associated Press survey shows the pandemic has made 25% of full-time workers consider quitting their jobs. Younger workers, and those with lower household incomes, were most likely to think about it. 28% have cut back on their hours, and 20% have had to take leave. On the positive side, more than 80% had a positive view of how their employer responded to the pandemic.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Miner, SD. Sheridan, KS. Harding, SD. Carter, MT. Webster, NE. Faulk, SD. Buffalo, SD. And Menominee, WI.

There are 2,755,294 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona overtakes Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey, Wyoming, Vermont, New Mexico, and Illinois. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Maine, Texas, California, and Delaware.

There’ve been a total 221,990 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.7%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 131. Texas 106. Florida 100. Illinois 68. Ohio 67. Kansas 56. Wisconsin 48. North Carolina 40. Pennsylvania 39. Michigan and Minnesota 35.

Globally, the number of active cases has crossed 9 million at 9,424,646.

There are 384,890 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours.

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 63,663. India 56,000. The U.K. 26,688. France 26,676. Brazil 25,832.

There have now been 1,129,710 deaths worldwide. Down 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 21st, 2020.

As cases in the U.S. surge, testing is still a problem. According to an NBC News analysis, testing rates have fallen in several states where cases are increasing. As many as 30 states and territories have seen cases increase more than 25% in the last two weeks. Only 21 saw increases in testing at or above that level during the same period.

Ten people at a nursing home in Norton, Kansas have died after an outbreak of Covid-19 infected every single resident. 62 residents in all. Some staff members have also tested positive, and the rest are being tested.

The British government yesterday seemed ready to impose strict coronavirus restrictions on Manchester after talks failed to reach an agreement. Greater Manchester’s Mayor has been seeking more financial support for workers and businesses affected by the restrictions.

Not everyone gives “just the facts.” An AP poll shows Americans have lost trust across the board in all of the people and institutions tasked with keeping them informed about the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. The family doctor ranks highest when it comes to whom Americans trust.

You cannot shoot the coronavirus with a gun. However, more than a hundred thousand Californians have bought a gun since the pandemic began. Buyers cited concerns over civil unrest, but experts worry about suicides, domestic violence, and accidents by untrained new gun owners.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Norton, KS. Bon Homme, SD. Miner, SD. Sheridan, KS. Harding, SD. Carter, MT. Foster, ND. Oliver, ND. Webster, NE. And Roosevelt, MT.

There are 2,748,539 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Utah, and Nebraska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey, Wyoming, New Mexico, Alaska, and Illinois. While the lowest retransmission is found in Maine, Texas, Mississippi, Delaware, and North Carolina.

There’ve been a total 220,944 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.71%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 85. Texas 81. North Carolina 53. Indiana 48. Illinois 41. Missouri 38. South Carolina 35. Wisconsin 33. Mississippi 31. And Tennessee 30.

Globally, there are 9,275,532 active cases.

There are 361,395 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 415,159.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 61,429. India 54,422. Brazil 23,690. The UK 21,331. And France 20,468.

There have now been 1,123,767 deaths worldwide. Down 11% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 20th, 2020.

The CDC said if any passenger doesn’t comply with wearing a mask while traveling on any form of public transport, kick them off. In fact, masks should be worn anywhere people gather to catch public transport. Many transportation services have seen some strong resistance to mask wearing.

Poland is turning its National Stadium in Warsaw into a field hospital to handle the surging number of infected. It’s expected to be operational within days. 500 beds at first with 50 being ICU, eventually getting to 1,000 beds.

Iran did it yet again, beat the single-day death toll from the coronavirus. The last record set was less than a week ago. 337 dead confirmed Monday. Iranian media dubbed it “Black Monday.” Tehran has run out of ICU beds and nonemergency treatments have been suspended. Iran’s Health Ministry spokeswoman put the blame on Iranians, scolding them for not taking precautions.

In the U.K., Wales became the second nation to shut down major parts of its economy as Prime Minister Boris Johnson resists calls to do the same throughout England. All non-essential retail, leisure, hospitality, and tourism businesses will close for two weeks starting 6pm Friday.

CVS Health is hiring 15,000 full and part-time workers to handle the patients expected during the combination of flu season and Covid. All the big drugstore chains are expecting a rush if they get approval to administer Covid-19 vaccines once they’re approved.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bon Homme, SD. Miner, SD. Sheridan, KS. Harding, SD. Carter, MT. Toole, MT. Foster, ND. Towner, ND. Oliver, ND. And Webster, NE.

There are 2,728,163 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri overtakes Maryland, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Jersey with a very high 1.51 Rt rate, New Mexico, Montana, Alaska and Vermont. While the lowest retransmission is found in Maine, Mississippi, Texas, Delaware, and New York.

There’ve been a total 220,095 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.73%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 55. Virginia 24. Indiana 23. California and Illinois 22. New York 20. Georgia 19. Texas 17. And Louisiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, and Washington all with 16.

Globally, there are 9,163,555 active cases.

There are 261,430 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 415,159.  

The five countries with the most new cases: United States 57,327. India 46,498. The UK 18,804. Russia 15,982. And Brazil 15,783.

There have now been 1,117,430 deaths worldwide. Down 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 19th, 2020.

The CDC says that while all other racial groups saw a decline in fatalities from May to August, the number of Hispanic Americans who died from the coronavirus increased. The U.S. Surgeon General says, "We do not think people of color are biologically or genetically predisposed to get COVID-19. But they have a higher incidence of diseases that put you at risk for severe complications."

A top Palestinian official, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat is in "serious but stable" condition with Covid-19. Yesterday he was transferred from his home in the West Bank to an Israeli hospital near Jerusalem. The 65-year-old had a lung transplant in 2017. His brother says, "His situation is not good."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says that state will fight the virus into the fall and winter by targeting micro-clusters block by block. Cuomo said Orange, Rockland, Queens and Brooklyn counties have micro-clusters. In fact, state officials cracked down on a planned wedding in Williamsburg that would have hosted upwards of 10,000.

It’s a different story in Russia, where bars and restaurants in Moscow are packed. The outbreak in Russia this month is breaking records set in spring when a lockdown was put in place. But Russia is now resisting shutting down businesses again.

Some businesses are absolutely booming during the pandemic and one of them is surfing. The country's biggest surf shops and board manufacturers all say demand is so huge, they can't keep boards in stock. Participants find it to be a cheap, socially distant activity.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Toole, MT. Bon Homme, SD. Miner, SD. Sheridan, KS. Carter, MT. Webster, NE. Foster, ND. Towner, ND. Oliver, ND. And Valley, MT.

There are 2,705,385 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, and Alabama overtakes Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Mexico, Vermont, Ohio, Montana, and Colorado. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Maine, Texas, Delaware, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 219,669 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.74%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Missouri 61. Florida 48. California 36. Georgia 31. Texas 28. Louisiana 23. Illinois 22. Pennsylvania and Arkansas 20. And Indiana 19.

Globally, there are 9,047,682 active cases.

There are 339,096 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, against a high of 415,159.  

The five countries with the most new cases: India 55,511. The United States 44,941. France 29,837. The UK 16,982. And Russia 15,099.

There have now been 1,112,558 deaths worldwide. Down 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 16th, 2020.

An administrative member of the aviation company that charters aircraft for the Biden campaign has tested positive. And they flew with the former Vice President Monday and Tuesday. But the campaign says the two were never closer than 50 feet apart.

First it was hydroxychloroquine. Now the antiviral drug Remdesivir’s positive effects are being challenged. A study coordinated by the World Health Organization says the drug had little or no effect as a treatment for Covid-19 patients. That study has not yet been peer reviewed.

Cries of alarm and anger in Paris after the French government imposed a curfew on almost a third of the population. Business owners are calling it “catastrophic.” ICU wards in the city could hit 90% capacity by next week. The curfew will last at least four weeks and confine citizens to their homes from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Canada does not want Americans crossing its border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the United States must get control of COVID-19 first. In the past week, 13 states that border Canada have been breaking infection records.

There may not be a reason to avoid going to the dentist. A survey found fewer than 1% of dentists nationwide were positive as of June. Of course, the survey was done by the American Dental Association. But it’s the first large-scale collection of U.S. dentist infection rates.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Toole, MT. Norton, KS. Roosevelt, MT. Sheridan, KS. Wheatland, MT. Oliver, ND. Faulk, SD. Buffalo, SD. Miner, SD. And Golden Valley, ND.

There are 2,673,459 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Mexico, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, and Ohio. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Delaware, Maine, Texas, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 217,754 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.77%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 139. Texas 85. California 80. Illinois 53. Alabama 50. Tennessee 36. Michigan 34. Indiana 28. Massachusetts 25. And Georgia and Missouri 22.

Globally, there are 8,679,327 active cases.

There are 380,030 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, that is a new high.  

The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 66,129. India 60,439. France 30,621. Brazil 29,498. And the UK 18,980.

There have now been 1,097,228 deaths worldwide. Down 1% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 15th, 2020.

First Lady Melania Trump said hers and the President’s teenage son Barron tested positive. He exhibited no symptoms and has since tested negative.

The Director of the CDC is not sounding encouraging about families getting together for Thanksgiving. He told the nation’s governors small household gatherings are becoming a growing source of Covid-19 spread.

France declared a public health state of emergency, giving officials greater powers to impose containment measures. A statement read, “The COVID-19 epidemic justifies the declaration so measures can be adopted proportionate to the public health risks.”

Iran marked its highest single-day record for new deaths and infections; 279 people killed and 4,830 new cases. It’s the third time in a week that country has hit new highs. There are travel bans to and from five major cities, including Tehran and the holy city of Mashhad, that aims to reduce risks ahead of a religious holiday Saturday.

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on college football. The head coach of #2 ranked Alabama, Nick Saban, was diagnosed with coronavirus. The 68-year-old is undergoing additional tests to make sure his results were not a false positive. Athletic director Greg Byrne also tested positive.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Toole, MT. Jerauld, SD. Faulk, SD. Norton, KS. Roosevelt, MT. Aurora, SD. Miner, SD. Chase, NE. Sheridan, KS. And Buffalo, SD.

There are 2,649,447 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Arizona surpasses Georgia, then Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in New Mexico, Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Maine, Texas, Delaware, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 216,639 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.78%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 112. California 104. Florida 64. Illinois 48. Alabama 41. North Carolina 40. Kansas 39. Tennessee 31. Minnesota 29. And Wisconsin 28.

Globally, there are 8,514,969 active cases.

There are 321,947 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 359,265.  

The five countries with the most new cases: India 67,988. United States 59,693. Brazil 26,675. France 22,591. And the UK 19,724.

There have now been 1,091,123 deaths worldwide. Down 2% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 14th, 2020.

A 25-year-old man in Nevada becomes the fifth known person in the world to contract the coronavirus on two separate occasions. In fact, he became more seriously ill after the second infection. He has recovered but reinfection casts doubt on the prospect of protective immunity and vaccines.

Speaking of vaccines, Johnson & Johnson paused its trials due to an unexplained illness in a study participant. The online system used to enroll patients in the study has been closed. And Eli Lilly’s late-stage trial of its monoclonal antibody treatment, also paused over potential safety concerns.

Is it safe to fly? Well, a study by the International Air Transport Association shows about 1 billion people have traveled by plane since the start of 2020, and just 44 cases have been confirmed among them. It did state "there is no way to establish an exact tally" of positive cases connected to air travel.

Restrictions are increasing across Europe. Italy and France are restricting parties and limiting restaurants and bars. The Netherlands closed all bars and restaurants, and to discourage partying at home, banned the sale of alcohol after 8pm. The Czech Republic is closing all schools and Latvia is ordering teens to switch to distance learning.

An athlete many say is the most famous in the world has tested positive. Cristiano Ronaldo has been sent away from his Portuguese football team and is self-quarantining at home. He appears to be asymptomatic. So far none of his teammates have tested positive.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Toole, MT. Jerauld, SD. Norton, KS. Aurora, SD. Faulk, SD. Roosevelt, MT. Miner, SD. Glacier, MT. Johnson, TN. And Chase, NE.

There are 2,642,953 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Idaho.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, Alaska, and Vermont. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Texas, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 215,861 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.79%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 121. Texas 86. California 63. North Carolina 43. Colorado 37. Wisconsin 34. Michigan 30. Illinois 29. Indiana 27. And Georgia and Arkansas 25.

Globally, there are 8,416,503 active cases.

There are 297,134 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 359,265.  

The five countries with the most new cases: India 63,517. United States 51,534. The UK 17,234. Russia 13,868. And Argentina 13,305.

There have now been 1,085,015 deaths worldwide. Down 1% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 13th, 2020.

While the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, Americans are increasingly saying don’t bother. A Gallup poll shows willingness to get such a vaccination has dropped 11 points, falling to only 50%. But at the same time, the percentage of Americans inclined to not go back to normal daily activities until there is a vaccine hit a new high of 26%.

The head of the World Health Organization called a reliance on herd immunity “simply unethical." It was noted that to get herd immunity, about 95% of the population must be immunized and that simply exposing people to the virus is not how you get to herd immunity.

The Vatican said four Swiss Guards tested positive and have symptoms. Infections have been surging in surrounding Italy. The Swiss Guards provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect 83-year-old Pope Francis.

Countries across Europe are tightening restrictions as cases increase. Europe surpassed 100,000 daily cases for the first time last week. The Czech Republic has Europe’s highest rate of infection. In July, that country held a “Farewell Covid” party to celebrate their victory over the virus.

JFK and Newark airports have partnered with XpresCheck to offer rapid testing facilities that provide results in 15 minutes. It’s the sister company of XpresSpa, which offers mani-pedis and massages at airports.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Jerauld, SD. Aurora, SD. Faulk, SD. Roosevelt, MT. Norton, KS. Toole, MT. Falls, TX. Miner, SD. Glacier, MT. And Johnson, TN.

There are 2,633,163 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Montana, New Mexico, Alaska, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, West Virginia, Washington, Delaware, and Texas.

There’ve been a total 214,061 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.80%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 48. Pennsylvania 18. Arkansas 17. Texas 15. Louisiana and Iowa 14. Massachusetts, Illinois, and Georgia 13. And New York 12.

Globally, there are 8,353,163 active cases.

There are 281,219 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 359,265.  

The five countries with the most new cases: India 54,265. United States 45,791. The UK 13,972. Russia 13,592. And Argentina 9,524.

There have now been 1,078,629 deaths worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 12th, 2020.

Australian scientists say the virus that causes Covid-19 can survive up to 28 days on surfaces. That includes phones, stainless steel, vinyl, and cash. The national science agency said they also found the virus survived longer at lower temperatures.

New York authorities have handed out over $150,000 in penalties since Friday in its new hot zones. That includes five fines for the maximum allowable penalty specifically for Orthodox religious gatherings. The crackdowns have mostly been in Brooklyn and Queens.

The World Health Organization is now appealing to world leaders to stop using lockdowns as the primary control method for the coronavirus. The statement claims the only thing lockdowns achieved was poverty.

A tipping point. That’s where the UK’s deputy chief medical officer says the kingdom is with COVID-19. Jonathan Van-Tam said the worst is yet to come if “we do not all act now”. The worry is winter. He says, “We’re in the middle of a severe pandemic and the seasons are against us. Basically, we’re running into a headwind.”

And Iran announced its highest single-day death toll with 251 confirmed dead. Two senior officials have been infected. The total confirmed death toll now stands at 28,544, making Iran the hardest-hit country in the region. Nearly 4,500 patients are in critical condition.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Jerauld, SD. Aurora, SD. Faulk, SD. Roosevelt, MT. Norton, KS. Falls, TX. Golden Valley, ND. Johnson, TN. Chase, NE. And Miner, SD.

There are 2,644,141 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Alaska. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, South Carolina, West Virginia, Delaware, and Washington.

There’ve been a total 214,767 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.81%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 90. Texas 28. Georgia 23. Louisiana 20. Massachusetts and Arkansas 17. Minnesota 10. And California, Illinois and Tennessee with 9.

Globally, there are 8,312,364 active cases.

There are 332,766 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 359,265.  

The five countries with the most new cases: India 67,757. United States 41,935. France 16,101. Russia 13,634. And the UK 12,872.

There have now been 1,075,750 deaths worldwide. Up 5% over 14 days.  

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 9th, 2020.

Researchers have used CRISPR gene-editing technology to create a test that detects the coronavirus in just 5 minutes. No expensive lab equipment needed, and tests could be run at doctor’s offices, schools, or office buildings. The tests work by identifying a sequence of RNA unique to the novel coronavirus.

MP’s have been warned the number of ICU patients in the north of England will overtake the April peak if infections keep rising at the current rate. New restrictions are expected next week for millions, restrictions that especially target bars, pubs, and restaurants.

In France, Paris hospitals have been told to activate emergency measures to cope with its rising numbers of patients. COVID patients in the Paris region now fill about 40% of intensive care units. Stricter restrictions were also put in place in four big cities were the virus is spreading.

And in Canada, public health officials are asking residents to stay home as much as they can. Last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declared a second wave was already underway. There’s been a 40% rise in the last week alone.

COVID-19 is most often brutal to the respiratory system. So there’s some irony in a report from Altria, formerly Philip-Morris, that the pandemic has caused a reversal of longtime declines in smoking. Cigarette sales are unexpectedly high.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Jerauld, SD. Aurora, SD. Falls, TX. Nelson, ND. Faulk, SD. Dickey, ND. Johnson, TN. Glacier, MT. Emmons, ND. Scurry, TX.

There are 2,590,832 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, and Utah.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Montana, Vermont, Wyoming, Kentucky, and New Hampshire. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, Virginia, California, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

There’ve been a total 212,716 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.85%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 158. Texas 103. California 69. Tennessee 63. Alabama 36. Georgia 35. Illinois 32. North Carolina and Missouri 29. And Kansas 26.

Globally, there are 8,014,414 active cases.

There are 351,219 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours. That is a new all-time high. 

The five countries with the most new cases: India 70,824. United States 56,652. Brazil 27,182. France 18,129. And the UK 17,540.

There have now been 1,060,869 deaths worldwide. Up 14% over 14 days. 

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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 8th, 2020.

An internal FEMA memo indicates the outbreak has infected 34 White House staffers and other contacts in recent days. And, according to the House Administration Committee, there are now 123 Legislative Branch employees or contractors who have tested positive — or are presumed positive.

Wisconsin health officials announced a field hospital will open next week at the state fairgrounds near Milwaukee to handle a surge in cases that threatens to overwhelm hospitals. Wisconsin has become a hot spot over the last month.

The federal government is cracking down on hospitals that don’t report complete COVID-19 data. That information includes the number of patients and ventilators they have. After multiple notifications, hospitals could lose reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.

Case numbers are high in the UK, but scientists say more than 80% of people who tested positive in a survey didn’t show any of the main symptoms. That includes cough, fever, and loss of taste and smell. That suggests future outbreaks will be hard to control without broader testing to catch “silent transmission.”

The games have been happening, now the crowds might get back into NFL games. The Miami Dolphins have been given permission from Florida’s governor to allow full capacity at Hard Rock Stadium. 65,000 seats. However, the team will likely restrict the number itself.  

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Falls, TX. Nelson, ND. Dickey, ND. Emmons, ND. Glacier, MT. Eddy, ND. Golden Valley, ND. Menominee, WI. Rawlins, KS. Toole, MT.

There are 2,576,060 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Alabama, and Illinois.

The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Utah, and Montana.

The retransmission rate is currently highest in Wyoming, Vermont, Montana, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. While the lowest retransmission is found in South Carolina, Mississippi, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia.

There’ve been a total 211,753 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.85%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 123. Texas 119. California 97. Illinois 42. Georgia 30. South Carolina 29. Pennsylvania 28. New York and Missouri 26. And Mississippi 24.

Globally, there are 7,922,085 active cases.

There are 328,393 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 332,905.