Coronavirus Global Updates, Oct 09: Wisconsin, Dakotas scramble for hospital beds; COVID outbreak kills nearly 8K minks at Utah farms; 212K US deaths

Fri Oct 9 11:18:40 CAT 2020

 <http://www.finsec.co.zw/> 

Zimbabwe COVID19 Update

COVID-19 update: As at 08 October 2020, Zimbabwe had 7 951 confirmed cases, including 6 446 recoveries and 229 deaths.

COVID-19 cases in Bulgaria hit new daily high record

Bulgaria has reported 516 new COVID-19 cases, breaking the daily high record since the start of the pandemic in March for a third consecutive day, official data showed.

The Balkan country has now 23,279 COVID-19 cases, including 880 deaths. Despite the surge in infections in past days, the health minister said the country was still doing relatively well compared to other European Union countries hit by a second COVID-19 wave and ruled out imposing new restrictions for now. (Input from Reuters)

Coronavirus in Odisha   | Odisha reports 2,697 new COVID-19 cases

Odisha's COVID-19 tally mounted to 2.46 lakh today with 2,697 more people testing positive for the infection, while 17 fresh fatalities pushed the toll to 991, a health department official said.

The state currently has 28,811 active cases, while 2.16 lakh patients recovered so far. (Input from PTI)

Coronavirus in Maharashtra  | Maharashtra Police: 154 more COVID-19 cases and two deaths were reported in the police force in the last 24 hours. Total confirmed cases in the department stand at 24,735, including 22,082 recoveries, 2,394 active cases and 259 deaths.

Coronavirus in Sikkim   | State government: 12 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state in the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 3,246. This includes 2,569 recoveries and a death toll of 52. Active cases stand at 545.

Coronavirus in Kerala   | Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple closes for devotees till October 15 after chief priest, 11 others test COVID-19 positive

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram has been shut for devotees till October 15, after 12 staff members, including the chief priest Periyanambi, tested positive for COVID-19.

Daily rituals at the temple will continue during the closure.

China joins COVAX initiative for COVID-19 vaccine distribution

China said it has joined a global COVID-19 vaccine initiative co-led by the World Health Organization (WHO), becoming the biggest economy to date to pledge support to help buy and distribute the shots fairly.

The move by China, where the new coronavirus was first reported, comes as it holds separate talks with the WHO to have its locally produced COVID-19 vaccines assessed for international use.

Coronavirus in Pakistan   | Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan have risen to 3,17,310, according to Dawn. This figure includes patients who have recovered (3,02,375) and the death toll in the country which stands at 6,550.

Coronavirus in India   : Total confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have risen to 69,06,151, according to the latest update from the Union Health Ministry. This number includes cases involving foreign nationals, patients who have recovered and the death toll.

Coronavirus in Mizoram   | State government: Seven new COVID-19 cases were reported yesterday, taking the state’s tally to 2,157, including 220 active cases.

Coronavirus in India   | IMA questions government on ayurveda, yoga-based treatment of COVID-19

The Indian Medical Association has questioned the scientific basis of the government's recently released protocol based on ayurveda and yoga for the prevention as well as treatment of asymptomatic and mild patients of COVID-19.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has on October 6 released a protocol for the clinical management of COVID-19, that lists dietary measures, yoga and ayurvedic herbs and formulations such as Ashwagandha and AYUSH-64 for prevention of coronavirus infection and treatment of mild and asymptomatic cases. 

Moderna will not enforce COVID-19 vaccine patents during pandemic

Moderna has said it would not enforce patents related to its experimental COVID-19 vaccine while the pandemic continues, a move that would allow other drugmakers to develop shots using the company's technology.

The company is not asserting its intellectual property rights for its vaccine technology and is willing to license the technology behind its experimental coronavirus vaccine after the pandemic, it said in a statement. 

Coronavirus in West Bengal   | Bengal reports highest one-day spike of 3,526 COVID-19 cases

The COVID-19 tally in West Bengal increased to 2.84 lakh yesterday after the state reported its highest single-day spike of 3,526 new infections, the health department said in a bulletin. The coronavirus death toll in the state mounted to 5,439 with 63 fresh fatalities. The recovery rate stands at 87.9 percent. (Input from PTI)

Coronavirus in India   | Total confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infections in India stands at 68,35,655. This number includes cases related to foreign nationals, reported active cases, patients who have recovered and the COVID-19 death toll in the country.

While 58,27,704 patients have recovered, 1,05,526 have died. Total reported active cases in the country stand at 9,02,425. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are the worst-affected.

Total confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the world stand at 3.62 crore, according to the Reuters tracker. This figure includes COVID-19 patients who have recovered and the overall global death toll which stands at 10.54 lakh.

With over 75.76 lakh reported cases till date, the United States is the worst-affected country in the world. The US is followed by India, Brazil, Russia and Colombia.

While restrictions have been eased significantly in China, where the novel coronavirus outbreak as first reported in late 2019, new hotspots are now emerging across the world. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Argentina and Peru are rising rapidly.

Coronavirus updates: Wisconsin, Dakotas scramble for hospital beds; COVID outbreak kills nearly 8K minks at Utah farms; 212K US deaths

Wisconsin health officials plan to open a field hospital amid a surge in cases in the midwest, the latest region to become a COVID-19 hotspot.

The virus first spiked in travel hubs like New York City, took hold over the summer in sunny, tourism-prone areas like Florida and now is now widely spreading in the midwest, especially in areas noted for downplaying the virus' risks. The midwest, however, isn't alone: U.S. coronavirus cases surpassed 7.5 million on Wednesday with most states seeing a rise in cases.

“What worries me is we haven’t learned our lessons,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. He cited data, compiled by the company Premise, showing mask usage is lower in Wisconsin and the Dakotas than the U.S. average of 50%.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump — who last week tested positive for the virus and was admitted to the hospital — has returned to the Oval Office, breaking quarantine despite recommendations from his doctors that he remain in the White House residence.

But he shows no signs of slowing down. Trump repudiated the Commission on Presidential Debates' decision to move the second presidential debate to a virtual format, calling it a "joke." Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien proposed delaying the final two debates each one week under their same format.

Today's numbers: The United States has reported more than 7.5 million cases and more than 212,600 deaths. Eleven states set records for new cases over the just-ended seven-day period while three states had a record number of deaths. The world has seen over 36.3 million cases and 1 million deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. 

Thousands of minks die during COVID-19 outbreak on Utah farms

Nearly 8,000 minks at Utah fur farms have died in the past 10 days because of the coronavirus. Nine sites in three counties are quarantining, but the state veterinarian says people aren't at risk from the outbreak.

"We genuinely don't feel like there is much of a risk going from the mink to the people," said state veterinarian Dr. Dean Taylor, who is investigating the outbreak.

Workers at the farms likely spread the virus to the animals, but there is no sign that the animals are spreading it to humans, Taylor said. No animals have been euthanized in Utah because of COVID and it does not appear to be necessary, Taylor said.

The dead animals' fur will be processed to remove any traces of the virus and then used for coats and other garments, according to Fur Commission USA, a mink farming trade group. The U.S. produces more than 3 million mink pelts each year. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories on Thursday announced the first COVID-19 infections among mink in Taylor County, Wisconsin.

COVID-19 cases surge in Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota

A surge of coronavirus cases in Wisconsin and the Dakotas is forcing a scramble for hospital beds and raising political tensions, as the Upper Midwest and Plains emerge as one of the nation’s most troubling hot spots.

The three states now lead all others in new cases per capita, after months in which many politicians and residents rejected mask requirements while downplaying the risks of the disease that has now killed over 210,000 Americans.

“It’s an emotional roller coaster,” said Melissa Resch, a nurse at Wisconsin’s Aspirus Wausau Hospital, which is working to add beds and reassign staff to keep up with a rising caseload of virus patients, many gravely ill.

In North Dakota, which does not require residents to wear masks and whose 770 new cases per 100,000 residents are the highest in the country, 24 more deaths were reported Wednesday, triple the state’s previous single-day record.

In Wisconsin, health officials plan to open a field hospital next week at the state fairgrounds to prevent health care centers from being overwhelmed by virus cases, even as state Republicans challenge Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' mask mandate in court.

Carnival CEO expects to resume US sailing before end of year

Arnold Donald, the CEO of Carnival Corp., expects that the company's cruise lines will be sailing by the end of the year in U.S. waters after a pause <https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/10/08/carnival-corp-expects-cruise-us-2020-a-way-go-forward/5904240002/>  in operations lasting over seven months.

"At this time we have every reason to be optimistic that we will be sailing in the U.S. before year end," Donald said on an earnings call Thursday. He added later that because of the success of initial sailings in Europe, the company believes it has a "way to go forward" despite the pandemic.

Carnival Corp. lines, which is parent to Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America, Princess Cruises, P&O Cruises, among others, are taking a staggered approach to resuming operations as previously promised by the cruise company. One has already resumed operations: Costa Cruises. It which resumed sailing two of its ships in Italy, made its first comeback voyage on Sept. 6

– Morgan Hines

Study: 86% of people who tested positive showed no symptoms

A British study has found 86% of people infected with the coronavirus didn’t show the main symptoms on the day they were tested. Researchers at University College London looked at data from a survey that has been testing thousands of U.K. households every week, regardless of whether the subjects had symptoms.

The study, released Thursday, looked at data for 36,061 people between April and June. Researchers found among those who tested positive, 86% didn’t have a cough, fever or loss of taste or smell. Lead researcher Irene Petersen says frequent and widespread testing of all individuals is needed to curb “silent transmission.”

 <https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2020/03/24/coronavirus-inspires-world-graffiti/2910639001/> 

Cases sharply rise throughout Europe as more shutdowns loom 

European countries that have previously fared well in the pandemic have seen a severe uptick in positive COVID-19 cases this week, prompting the possibility of more shutdowns and social distancing mandates across the pond.

England reported a 56% increase in positive COVID-19 cases last week, after more than 51,000 people received positive tests,  <https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-test-and-trace-figures-show-weekly-cases-up-56-in-england-12098971> per Sky News. In Germany, officials reported a one-day jump of 4,058 cases, warning that cases could reach to more than 10,000 a day if "we lose control.” The Netherlands also reported a single-day record high of positive cases,  <https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-54460270> reported the BBC, as did Poland, which is reintroducing mandatory face masks in public spaces in response.

Italy, which has handled the pandemic relatively well after a tumultuous start, also recorded its highest positive case count in five months — also leading to the return of a mask mandate.

Florida gun background checks surge amid pandemic and protests

More than 1 million people in Florida requested background checks  <https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2020/10/08/a-historic-year-gun-sales-florida-gun-background-checks-top-1-million/3582367001/> to purchase firearms during the first nine months of 2020, according to statistics from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. It's the first time since 2016 that Florida has had that many, and only the second time since 2004.

Many are first-time gun buyers, with more than 80,000 new applications for concealed weapons permits since July 1, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture. Purchases peaked in March, when the pandemic hit, and June, when protests surrounding the deaths of Black Americans reached a fever pitch.

– Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post

California megachurch school tied to outbreak with at least 137 cases

As of Tuesday, there have been 137 COVID-19 cases at Bethel Church's School of Supernatural Ministry since classes started in early September, and currently there are 68 active cases.  <https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2020/10/07/redding-megachurch-bethel-school-supernatural-ministry-statement-covid-outbreak-coronavirus/5914237002/> The charismatic megachurch, which has in the past been criticized for holding large, in-person worship events  <https://www.redding.com/story/news/2020/07/23/county-and-city-condemn-large-outdoor-worship-gathering-pandemic/5496187002/> during the pandemic, issued a statement instructing students and staff in contact with individuals who have tested positive to stay home. 

“We have seen that a primary source of the transmission has occurred in off-campus living situations and social interactions outside of school hours that are common to student life,” said a statement from the school.

– David Benda, Redding (Calif.) Record Searchlight

Anti-lockdown protests in NYC's Orthodox Jewish community

Protesters gathered for a second night in New York on Wednesday  <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/08/new-york-covid-19-restrictions-cuomo-spark-orthodox-protests/5920870002/> in defiance of new shutdown orders in some of the city's neighborhoods that have seen spikes in new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks. Orthodox Jewish protesters gathered en masse in Brooklyn, some with masks and others without, decrying new restrictions from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that would close nonessential businesses and schools and limit the size of religious gatherings.

The new lockdown orders were issued for parts of Queens, Brooklyn and the city's suburbs that have disproportionately contributed to new virus cases in recent weeks, and some of those areas are home to large populations of the Orthodox Jewish community. The new measures also come amid the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, contributing the anger from some of those in the Orthodox community.

– Ryan W. Miller

What can we expect from a winter COVID-19 second wave?

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials have predicted that we would have a terrible winter — as more people spend more time indoors, travel for the holidays, and struggle with  <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/07/covid-winter-second-wave-may-bad-experts-warn-continued-vigilance/5873746002/> conflicting messages from national and local leaders.

No one really knows what the next few months will bring, but clues point to a mixed bag. Lots of inexpensive, readily available, fast tests will be available in the coming months, and at least one vaccine is likely to win preliminary approval by the end of the year. That said, we can't let up yet.

"Things are likely to get bad in the winter if what we continue to do is relax measures in places where COVID-19 cases are high or increasing," said Samuel Scarpino, an assistant professor at Northeastern University in Boston, where he directs the school's Emergent Epidemics Lab.

– Karen Weintraub

American Lung Association wants to dispel COVID-19 misinformation

The rash of coronavirus infections emanating from the White House, followed by President Donald Trump’s tweeted advice to the nation – “Don’t be afraid of Covid’’ – prompted the American Lung Association to issue guidance for those confronting the disease in  <https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/07/covid-19-american-lung-association-misinformation/5918688002/> hopes of dispelling misinformation.

A statement from ALA chief medical officer Dr. Albert Rizzo largely reiterates info from the CDC, counseling members of the public who get infected to isolate for 10 days from the point of getting a positive test result or develop symptoms, to work with a contact-tracing team and to consult with a doctor without leaving the house, possibly through telemedicine. But they come at a time of increased skepticism about the government’s instructions regarding the virus and fatigue about restrictions.

– Jorge L. Ortiz

Cheap, rapid, at-home tests are key to the COVID-19 fight. Where are they?

Advocates say rapid and cheap home tests might be as important as a vaccine in the fight against COVID-19, even though the tests are less accurate than pricier PCR tests.  But testing companies developing rapid home tests and their allies want the FDA and other federal agencies to loosen restrictions on home tests and ease authorization.

Dr. Michael Mina, a Harvard epidemiologist who has been advocating for such cheap tests since June, says some testing companies have been discouraged by the agency's initial recommendations. But Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said that the FDA is "very flexible" in its requirements for test developers. “We’ve been taking essentially all comers," he said. 

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