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Delta variant takes hold in U.S. as coronavirus cases rise nearly 70 percent – Washington Post
Federal health officials sounded an alarm Friday about a surge in U.S. coronavirus infections fueled by the twin threats posed by the highly transmissible delta variant and a stagnation in efforts to vaccinate as many Americans as possible.
Delta COVID variant now dominant strain worldwide, U.S. deaths surge – Reuters
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is now the dominant strain worldwide, accompanied by a surge of deaths around the United States almost entirely among unvaccinated people, U.S. officials said on Friday.
Nightclubs Reopen as England Ditches Most Covid-19 Curbs Amid Delta Surge – WSJ
As the clock struck midnight Sunday, nightclubs across England opened their doors and partygoers ditched their face masks and streamed in as the country lifted almost all Covid-19 restrictions despite a surge in new infections linked to the Delta variant.
After Sydney, Melbourne Forced To Extend Lockdown As Australia Continues To Fight Delta Variant Outbreak – Forbes
Australian authorities announced an extension of the Covid-19 lockdown in the state of Victoria, and its capital Melbourne, as the country’s two most populous cities and their surrounding areas fight to control a Delta variant-fueled outbreak that threatens to upend Australia’s earlier success in controlling the pandemic.
‘Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated’: CDC Says Delta Variant May Warrant Local Mask Mandates – Forbes
Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday that municipalities with low rates of vaccination and increasing coronavirus case numbers should consider imposing mask mandates, warning that the rapidly spreading Delta variant is causing a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
Why have COVID-19 cases suddenly surged in Australia? – Medical News Today
Australia is trying its utmost to contain fresh outbreaks of COVID-19. Most of the country has entered into new snap lockdowns, as cases of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 spread across several cities. Darwin, Perth, and Brisbane emerged from lockdowns over the weekend.
Indonesia reports record number of doctor deaths from COVID-19 in July – Reuters
Deaths of doctors from COVID-19 in Indonesia rose sharply in the first half of July, according to the profession’s association, as the Delta variant of the coronavirus fuelled a surge in infections across the country.
Are Patients Spreading SARS-CoV-2 to Their Hospital Roommates? – MedPageToday
One of the most important questions with any infectious disease, but particularly novel ones like SARS-CoV-2, is the mechanism and efficiency by which it spreads. From the beginning of the pandemic, there have been varied estimates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates and debate about whether it spreads predominantly through droplets versus aerosols.
U.K. Set for Big Reopening as Cases Soar Most in the World – Bloomberg
Boris Johnson’s plan to get the U.K. back to normal is at risk of being derailed amid a public outcry over his attempt to dodge pandemic isolation rules, as Covid-19 cases soar the most in the world.
Canada to open border to fully vaccinated U.S. citizens on Aug. 9 – Washington Post
Canada on Monday said it would begin to ease pandemic restrictions at the U.S.-Canada border next month, allowing U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the United States who are fully vaccinated with Canadian-authorized vaccines to enter for nonessential travel without quarantining.
All children should wear masks in school this fall, even if vaccinated, according to pediatrics group – NBC News
The American Academy of Pediatrics is calling the new guidance a “layered approach.”
Vaccine Headlines
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine: What to know about side effects – Medical News Today
Vaxzevria, the COVID-19 vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca, may cause some of the mostly mild-to-moderate side effects that people often encounter after any vaccination. However, there are also some recent controversies surrounding rare blood clotting incidents linked to this vaccine.
Clinical Considerations
Heart medications do not affect COVID-19 outcomes, study finds – Medical News Today
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, one of the most striking observations was the wide variety of health outcomes among people who developed the underlying viral infection. For people taking drugs to manage cardiovascular disease, the lack of knowledge about possible interactions between COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system can be a source of concern.
Why Impact of ‘Long Covid’ Could Outlast the Pandemic – Bloomberg
Millions of people who have gotten Covid-19 and survived are finding that a full recovery can be frustratingly elusive. Weeks or even months after seemingly recovering from even a mild case, many patients still confront a wide range of health problems. As researchers try to measure the duration and depth of what’s being called “long Covid,” a growing number of specialized, post–acute Covid clinics are opening to handle the patients. The scale of the pandemic and persistence for some of Covid’s disabling effects mean the economic pain and drain on health resources could continue well after the contagion ends.
‘Horrific’: 2 unvaccinated Covid patients require lung transplant, partial lung removal – NBC News
“I just don’t want anyone else to go through this”: The family of one of the men speaks out to encourage people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Official Reporting for July 20, 2021
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update July 13, 2021 (latest release)
Confirmed Cases: 190,597,409
Deaths: 4,093,145
Confirmed Cases: 190,767,261
Deaths: 4,093,331
Total cases: 33,896,296 (+7,156 New Cases)
Total deaths: 606,618 (+27 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
Deconstructing the Infectious Machinery of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus – Berkley Labs
Scientists collaborate to model the complex protein responsible for SARS-CoV-2 replication, revealing its potential weak spots for drug development
A Fatal Case of SARS-CoV-2 Coinfection with Coccidioides in Texas—Another Challenge We Face – Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Could SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 Be a Biological Weapon? – PubMed
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Wellness Resorts Eye Long Covid Treatments as New Moneymaker – Bloomberg
From colonic cleanses to brain modulation to nutrient-rich IV drips, spas are coming up with all sorts of (costly) ways to treat symptoms of long Covid. An example here
The Pain of the Never-Ending Work Check-In – WSJ
Meeting burnout got worse in the pandemic; hybrid schedules could make things even messier
Published Research
Effect of Oral Azithromycin vs Placebo on COVID-19 Symptoms in Outpatients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection – JAMA
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Vocal Anti-Vaccine Chiropractors Split the Profession – New York Times
The conflict among chiropractors has become more consequential as the Delta variant of the coronavirus spreads and the rate of new vaccinations slows.
Vaccine Hesitancy
Understanding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy – Nature
As of 29 June 2021, there had been more than 181 million reported infections with SARS-CoV-2 and nearly 4 million reported deaths from COVID-191. In May 2020, the 73rd World Health Assembly issued a resolution recognizing the role of extensive immunization as a global public-health goal for preventing, containing and stopping transmission of SARS-CoV-22. Globally, there are now more than 125 vaccine candidates, 365 vaccine trials ongoing, and 18 vaccines against COVID-19 approved by at least one country3. Published research carried out largely in high-income countries cites concerns about the safety of vaccines against COVID-19, including the rapid pace of vaccine development, as one of the primary reasons for hesitancy4, but data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have been limited. In this issue of Nature Medicine, Solis Arce et al. present data that begin to address this research gap.
Could COVID Shots in Secret Lure Holdouts? – Medical News Today
In COVID-19 hot spots across the country where the Delta variant is thriving and vaccine hesitancy is high, hospitals have continued to urge for more people to get vaccinated. In the case of Ozarks Healthcare, based in West Plains, Mo., the health system recently issued an impassioned plea for people to get vaccinated, even if it means doing so in secret.
Coping with COVID
Greetings from Germany! Traveling this week, and when exiting the plane in Frankfurt, arriving passengers were greeted by armed Polizei with a friendly mask enforcement message. Honestly, they were quite friendly, I said hello in my best muffled by a mask German. On the flight the Captain did admonish some mask non-compliant passengers - perhaps that was the reason for the Polizei greeting.
Thanks for this James!
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