Monthly Archives: March 2021

HILLSBOROUGH Co., Fla. (WFLA) Anyone 16 or older will be eligible for coronavirus vaccinations on Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis said last week.

However, parents have many questions and concerns about whether their child should get the shot.

Although those 18 and older can get any COVID-19 vaccine, teenagers ages 16 and 17 can only get the Pfizer shots, the only one approved by the FDA for teens.

To get the vaccine, those between 16 and 17 must have their parent or guardians permission.

An LX News poll found that Generation Z, the generation born between the mid-to-late 1990s and the early 2010s, is particularly disinterested in the vaccine.

The poll found that 26% of GenZers say they wouldnt get the shot. Thats up from last March when only 5% said they would not.

Dr. Michael Teng with USF Health tells 8 On Your Side that parents and teens shouldnt be too concerned.

The Pfizer vaccine included 16 to 17 years olds, so they can show that it was safe, Teng said. Physiologically there is very little difference between a 16 and 18 year olds. It has nothing to do with their ability to respond to a vaccine.

The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County says by Monday, more than 1.2 million Hillsborough County residents will become eligible for the vaccine.

Teng says we could see more younger children get the vaccine soon, and we could see more options for them too.

I imagine Pfizer will come out with their data within the next month or two and Moderna will not be far behind, both vaccines have enrolled the trial down to 6 months of age, so end of summer, beginning of fall that data will be out, Teng said.

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Doctors reassuring parents, teens that COVID-19 vaccine is safe - WFLA

NAVAJO NATION(KRQE) The Navajo Nation has announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 Strain Variant B.1.1.7, also referred to as the U.K. variant, at a virtual town hall Tuesday. The Navajo Nation says the test sample was obtained in the western portion of the Nation.

We shouldnt panic, but we should be informed about this new development. There is still much to be learned about this particular variant, but the evidence so far indicates that the UK variant is more contagious and is more severe in some cases. The U.K. variant has been detected in all 50 states, and now we have a confirmed case here on the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Department of Health continues to work with states and other partners to conduct surveillance to help identify if there are more variant cases. We dont want to cause panic, but we want to reinforce the need to take all precautions by limiting travel, getting tested if symptoms occur, wearing one or two masks, avoiding medium to large in-person gatherings, practicing social distancing, and washing your hands often, said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in a news release.

According to the Navajo Department of Health, the individual that tested positive for the U.K. variant received the COVID-19 vaccine over one month prior to testing positive and was hospitalized and is now recovering at home.The Navajo Nation conducted contact tracing and no further spread was identified beyond the one individual who tested positive for the U.K. variant. The Navajo Epidemiology Center, under the Navajo Department of Health and Health Command Operations Center, continues to coordinate with states and other testing facilities to sequence samples for the variants.

In this particular case, the severity of the infection for this individual may have been reduced by the vaccine that the person received weeks prior. As weve said before, the vaccines do not guarantee that a person wont become infected with COVID-19 and the variants, so its very important to continue taking all precautions even after you are fully vaccinated. The vaccines help to reduce the severity of the disease if you become infected with COVID-19. Everyone must continue to take all precautions including wearing a mask and limiting your travel to essential activities only. We continue to encourage our people to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, which are effective in reducing the effects of COVID-19. If someone misses their second dose, they should schedule an appointment to get the second dose as soon as possible, said Navajo Department of Health Executive Director Dr. Jill Jim in the same news release.

Personal responsibility is key to reducing the spread of the U.K. variant. We know how to prevent the virus from spreading, but we all have to do our part. Please remain vigilant, keep taking all precautions, and continue to pray. Our health care experts are doing their best to mitigate the spread of the U.K. variant and to save lives, said Vice President of the Navajo Nation Myron Lizer in a news release.

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First case of COVID-19 UK variant confirmed on Navajo Nation - KRQE News 13

New York announced on Monday that it will make all adult residents eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine by April 6, a symbolic shift in the states recovery from a deadly pandemic that has killed tens of thousands of residents and crippled the states economy.

Yet the expansion will significantly test the states health apparatus, which will face a flood of newly eligible residents seeking coveted appointments while the vaccine supply just matches demand.

The race to vaccinate New Yorkers comes at a critical time during the pandemic: The state is recording new cases of the virus at one of the highest rates in the country, with several more contagious variants of the virus continuing to spread.

We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but until we get there it is more important than ever for each and every New Yorker to wear a mask, socially distance and follow all safety guidelines, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement on Monday.

The expanded vaccination program puts New York on track to beat President Bidens goal of making every adult in the country eligible for a vaccine by May 1. Before Monday, it was one of only a few states that had not yet set a timeline to do so.

New York will first allow residents who are 30 and older to begin receiving vaccinations on Tuesday. It will then expand to all those 16 and older on April 6. The expansion comes one year after the worst period of the initial coronavirus outbreak in New York State.

Asante Mensah, 42, broke into a smile when he learned he would soon be eligible for the vaccine.

It feels so great, Mr. Mensah, a security guard who lives in Brooklyn, said.

Samra Albertine, 17, said she intended to make an appointment as soon as she became eligible.

It makes me less likely to get the virus, she said. And I want to see more people.

Even as Mr. Cuomo gradually loosened vaccine eligibility criteria over the last month, lowering age thresholds and broadening the pool of workers who qualified, he expressed reluctance to set a specific target date for doing away with the states requirements.

The governor said last week that he did not want to outline a timeline for more widespread vaccination until he was more confident that New York would have adequate vaccine supply on hand for its population.

I just want to make sure that the allocation projections that were getting from the feds are right, frankly, Mr. Cuomo said at a news conference last week. I dont want to say Were going to open up to 30-year-olds in three weeks, and then something happens with the allocation.

A spokesman for the governor did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Even before expanding eligibility, the state had faced concerns over its ability to provide shots to those who needed them most. Those seeking appointments had to check dozens of websites, with the state and New York City having completely distinct scheduling systems, both of which favored residents who had high-speed internet access or who had ample time to sit and refresh sites for appointments.

March 31, 2021, 5:40 a.m. ET

Marian Carney Ryan, 51, a teacher who lives in Rochester, said that booking an appointment for her shot had been a messy endeavor.

It was a huge competition, Ms. Ryan said. It was like getting tickets to a Rolling Stones concert.

Just hours after Mr. Cuomos announcement, there were signs that demand for appointments for the newly eligible might be overwhelming. TurboVax, a website that compiles availability from city and state vaccine systems to help people locate open appointments, said on Twitter that 22,000 users were looking for vaccination slots on its site on Monday afternoon more than four times its previous high.

As of Monday, 29.6 percent of people in New York State had received at least one shot of a vaccine, while 16.8 percent were fully vaccinated, according to the state Health Departments data.

In New York City, about 32 percent of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to city data. The city has quickened its vaccination pace in the last month, with about 66,000 vaccine doses administered per day in March, up from about 44,000 per day in February.

While many are eager to receive the vaccine as soon as possible, the state must still confront a number of people who are skeptical about coronavirus vaccines or reluctant to get vaccinated, even as studies have shown the shots to be safe and effective.

Public health experts have repeatedly emphasized the need for widespread immunity to limit the spread of the disease and facilitate continued reopening. The state has launched campaigns meant to address vaccine hesitancy, which could threaten efforts to slow the viruss spread.

Keishorne Scott, 34, a life coach in Brooklyn, said that while he was happy more people would be eligible, he did not immediately plan to get vaccinated. Instead, he wanted to wait and see if those who received the vaccine had negative side effects.

I think its one step closer, Mr. Scott said. Safety is another reason for people to get it, but its challenging. A lot of people are still afraid.

New York, like states across the country, has also faced significant concerns over providing equitable access to vaccinations, particularly in low-income communities of color in New York City that were hit the hardest by the virus but where inoculations have lagged.

Officials have worked to set up a number of vaccination sites in those areas, but the disparity has persisted. The citys data shows that of the residents who received one dose of a vaccine and whose race was recorded, about 37 percent were white, 19 percent were Latino, 19 percent were Asian and 14 percent were Black. Latino and Black residents were especially underrepresented: The citys population is roughly 29 percent Latino and 24 percent Black.

The further expansion of vaccination comes as New York has been adding new virus cases at one of the highest rates among U.S. states. As of Monday, the state had a seven-day average of 49 new virus cases a day for every 100,000 residents, second by a fraction of a percent to New Jersey, according to a New York Times database.

The United States as a whole was averaging 19 new cases per 100,000 people, though cases are rising again as variants spread and as many state leaders have eased up on restrictions.

Even as the number of new cases continues to rise in New York, the state has not faced anywhere near the level of devastation that it experienced a year ago, when hospitals were overwhelmed with patients and morgues were overflowing.

Mr. Cuomo has for months said that vaccinations would be key to the states ability to reopen shuttered businesses and raise capacity limits. Last month, the governor allowed sporting events and concerts to resume at large venues with limited capacity. Earlier this month, movie theaters, among the first businesses to shut last year, were able to bring back audiences, also at limited capacity.

Restaurants in New York City are also allowed to serve diners indoors at 50 percent capacity, their highest level of indoor dining since Mr. Cuomo closed them last year at the onset of the pandemic. (In the rest of the state, the maximum capacity is at 75 percent.)

Nate Schweber contributed reporting.

See more here:

All Adults in New York Will Be Eligible for Vaccination Next Week - The New York Times

1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 127.1 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at more than 2.78 million. More than 541 million vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

Mexico's death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic is likely at least 60% higher than the previously confirmed estimate, putting it in excess of 300,000, according to government data.

As of Friday, 177 countries and economies had begun their vaccination programmes, meaning 36 have yet to start. World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for all countries to begin vaccinations within the first 100 days of 2021.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pressed states to step-up efforts to curb rapidly rising infections. We have our emergency brake... unfortunately, it is not respected everywhere. I hope that there might be some reflection on this, Merkel said.

Japan's vaccine minister said the country's pace of inoculation would accelerate in May. Starting in May, there will be no bottleneck in supply, Taro Kono told Reuters in an interview.

The number of COVID-19 patients in France's intensive care units has risen to a new high for the year, health ministry data showed Sunday.

A snap three-day lockdown has been announced in the Australian city of Brisbane after a cluster of cases linked to the UK variant of COVID-19 rose to seven.

While cases fall in some countries, they're on the rise elsewhere.

Image: Our World in Data

2. India's confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 12 million

India has reported its highest single-day increase in COVID-19 cases since October, taking the country's total number of confirmed cases past 12 million. 68,020 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, the health ministry said Monday.

The country's worst affected state, Maharashtra, is considering imposing a strict lockdown, having already tightened travel restrictions and imposed a night curfew.

India's total caseload is the world's second highest, behind the United States.

The COVID Social Enterprise Action Agenda builds on the actions that its members have already taken and seeks to inspire new commitments. It outlines 25 concrete recommendations for five key stakeholder groups to support social entrepreneurs during COVID-19:

3. 5,000 attend Barcelona rock concert

5,000 people were able to attend a music concert in Barcelona after pre-concert testing for COVID-19. Once inside, social distancing was not required, although attendees did wear masks.

Pre-concert testing at three Barcelona locations was carried out by 80 nurses wearing full personal protective equipment. Anyone receiving a positive test was unable to attend, but received a refund.

The government-approved concert will serve as a test case for restarting similar events.

Continued here:

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 29 March - World Economic Forum

When we breathe, we exhale CO2, as shown by this infrared camera. Outdoors, the CO2 is rapidly diluted and the risk of transmission is very low because we dont breathe any air that has previously been exhaled by another person.

In closed spaces with no ventilation, such as this car, a meter shows that parts-per-million (ppm) of CO2 accumulate to the extent that within 15 minutes we re-inhale 4% of the air we have already breathed.

If the car is shared and there is no ventilation, within the space of 10 minutes, 8% of the air we breathe in will have already been exhaled by the other passenger. That means we are sharing the air with another person and the risk of transmission is high.

If one of the two people in the car is Covid-positive, the risk of the other catching the virus is 30% in 30 minutes or 71% in an hour.

If both people open their windows just five centimeters, cross-ventilation can renew the air up to nine times every minute. The exhaled air disappears and the probability of transmission is low.

Humanity has been fighting an invisible enemy for more than a year. Of course we do not see the coronavirus and, in many cases, we do not even know if we are in contact with an asymptomatic case. But it is not the first time that an invisible threat has been fought using an indirect approach: think of the canaries that were once taken down the coal mines to detect gas leaks.

During this pandemic, it has been shown that poorly ventilated buildings are the most dangerous environments of all because particles containing the virus can linger in the air until someone breathes them in. And although we do not have a device that can show these particles, we can measure the air quality and CO concentration using a meter. The higher the concentration of CO, which is exhaled when we breathe, the worse the rooms ventilation. A simple measurement allows us to know if the room is loaded with air exhaled by other people or if it is well ventilated, thereby drastically reducing the risk of infection.

Because of its reduced dimensions, the interior of a car serves as a microcosm of what happens in larger rooms. When a person gets into a car where there is one other person and the windows are closed, the concentration of CO soars, as a percentage of what is breathed in has already been exhaled by the other passenger. However, simply by opening the windows just a few centimeters and generating cross-ventilation, the air gets constantly refreshed. In a house, a bar or a classroom, the premise is basically the same.

Link between CO2 and breathed air

The air we breathe outside contains an average of 412 parts-per-million (ppm) of CO2. If we observe this figure on a meter, the air has not been exhaled by anyone.

WHO limit for healthy air quality

*Harvard and IDAEA-CSIC-LIFTEC recommended guidelines

Link between CO2 and breathed air

The air we breathe outside contains an average of 412 parts-per-million (ppm) of CO2. If we observe this figure on a meter, the air has not been exhaled by anyone.

WHO limit for healthy air quality

*Harvard and IDAEA-CSIC-LIFTEC recommended guidelines

Link between CO2 and breathed air

The air we breathe outside contains an average of 412 parts-per-million (ppm) of CO2. If we observe this figure on a meter, the air has not been exhaled by anyone.

WHO limit for healthy air quality

*Harvard and IDAEA-CSIC-LIFTEC recommended guidelines

Link between CO2 and breathed air

The air we breathe outside contains an average of 412 parts-per-million (ppm) of CO2. If we observe this figure on a meter, the air has not been exhaled by anyone.

WHO limit for healthy air quality

*Harvard and IDAEA-CSIC-LIFTEC recommended guidelines

While the virologist Margarita del Val keeps an eye on the levels of CO in cars that she uses with her own meter because it is an indirect indication that helps us to ventilate correctly, she is not in favor of promoting its use in the daily lives of normal people. She is, however, in favor of it being regulated and its use promoted as a tool for the authorities. In many stable environments, such as schools, it is not necessary to have one installed; just a few measurements and you know what is required to maintain good air renewal, notes Del Val, who is in charge of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) platform for Covid-19. And that includes limiting exposure to the cold, because sometimes it is enough to open the windows just a little.

Last week, Del Val and 100 other scientists and health professionals sent a letter to the Spanish authorities in which they demanded that urgent measures be taken to prevent transmission caused by poor ventilation. Among the measures advocated was the use of CO concentration as a benchmark by which to measure air quality. Another of the letters signatories, Javier Ballester of the University of Zaragoza, is critical of the fact that the government is doing little to tackle existing confusion on the issue. Its not enough to provide information via Twitter, he says. Its all very complex biology and behavior but there are two indisputably effective factors: ventilation and masks. Just as the government regulates the quality of masks, it should provide information on how to properly ventilate. There have been many anecdotes describing how some individuals and educational centers ventilate prior to occupancy, leaving the room freezing cold, then close the windows as soon as people arrive, which is when the risk exists. If they dont know this, they wont open the windows, or they wont sit by the window in the bar: individual awareness is decisive, says Ballester.

Risks entering closed spaces

and how to avoid them

Entering a closed space occupied by others entails a risk if we dont know if it contains air that has already been exhaled.

Both CO2 and the coronavirus can linger for hours in an unventilated closed space.

If we are going to enter a closed space that does not have a CO2 meter, it is essential to ventilate it first.

Leaving two car windows open several centimeters while we drive allows for cross-ventilation that constantly renews the air.

Source: Calculations of air renewal obtained by David Higuera, an industrial engineer and expert in installations, using an anemometer.

Risks entering closed spaces

and how to avoid them

Entering a closed space occupied by others entails a risk if we dont know if it contains air that has already been exhaled.

Both CO2 and the coronavirus can linger for hours in an unventilated closed space.

If we are going to enter a closed space that does not have a CO2 meter, it is essential to ventilate it first.

Leaving two car windows open several centimeters while we drive allows for cross-ventilation that constantly renews the air.

Source: Calculations of air renewal obtained by David Higuera, an industrial engineer and expert in installations, using an anemometer.

Risks entering closed spaces and how to avoid them

Both CO2 and the coronavirus can linger for hours in an unventilated closed space.

Entering a closed space occupied by others entails a risk if we dont know if it contains air that has already been exhaled.

If we are going to enter a closed space that does not have a CO2 meter, it is essential to ventilate it first.

Leaving two car windows open several centimeters while we drive allows for cross-ventilation that constantly renews the air.

Source: Calculations of air renewal obtained by David Higuera, an industrial engineer and expert in installations, using an anemometer.

Risks entering closed spaces and how to avoid them

Leaving two car windows open several centimeters while we drive allows for cross-ventilation that constantly renews the air.

Both CO2 and the coronavirus can linger for hours in an unventilated closed space.

Entering a closed space occupied by others entails a risk if we dont know if it contains air that has already been exhaled.

If we are going to enter a closed space that does not have a CO2 meter, it is essential to ventilate it first.

Source: Calculations of air renewal obtained by David Higuera, an industrial engineer and expert in installations, using an anemometer.

Scientist Pedro Magalhes de Oliveira, from Cambridge University, has studied how infected aerosols the suspended viral particles exhaled when talking, singing or breathing work. To calculate optimum conditions for daily scenarios, Oliveira has developed an online tool called airborne.cam. The potential for measuring indoor CO levels has been largely overlooked, he says. Health authorities could do this to identify high-risk locations and better inform the people who manage them. He does point out, however, that even in a well-ventilated space, there could be short-range transmission when viral particles are breathed in soon after a positive Covid case exhales if there is not enough time for the aerosols to be diluted. Thats why its so important to wear a mask and keep a safe distance, even outdoors, he says.

Some authorities have taken note. For example, the regional government of Navarre in northern Spain includes the measurement of CO as a important tool for the hospitality sector. A document advising on measures to be taken during the Easter holidays states: Ventilate as much as possible and measure air quality, using CO meters If the concentration of CO exceeds 800 parts per million, increased ventilation is recommended or decreased attendance until it [CO] falls below that indicator. In the event, the region has opted to ban indoor drinking and dining altogether over the Easter period.

Effectiveness of constant ventilation

Measurements of air quality in more than 20 educational centers show that only constant ventilation in closed spaces, whether natural or mechanical, keeps the risk of transmission low.

Constant ventilation maintains the concentration of exhaled air outside the risk zone.

Every time the windows are closed, the levels of CO2 shoot up.

Effectiveness of constant ventilation

Measurements of air quality in more than 20 educational centers show that only constant ventilation in closed spaces, whether natural or mechanical, keeps the risk of transmission low.

Constant ventilation maintains the concentration of exhaled air outside the risk zone.

Every time the windows are closed, the levels of CO2 shoot up.

Effectiveness

of constant

ventilation

Measurements of air quality in more than 20 educational centers show that only constant ventilation in closed spaces, whether natural or mechanical, keeps the risk of transmission low.

Constant ventilation maintains the concentration of exhaled air outside the risk zone.

Every time the windows are closed, the levels of CO2 shoot up.

Effectiveness of constant ventilation

Measurements of air quality in more than 20 educational centers show that only constant ventilation in closed spaces, whether natural or mechanical, keeps the risk of transmission low.

Every time the windows are closed, the levels of CO2 shoot up.

Constant ventilation maintains the concentration of exhaled air outside the risk zone.

Meanwhile, countries such as Germany, Canada and the UK include CO monitoring in their pandemic guidelines. Last summer, the Harvard School of Public Health published a guide for reopening schools that became a reference. The guide points to these monitors as a key tool for calculating the air quality of classrooms. The CSIC also included them in its recommendations. And the World Health Organization has just released its own detailed manual for adequate ventilation against Covid.

Mechanical Air Extraction

and Natural Ventilation

Measurements of CO2 carried out in a bar occupied by almost 100 people on January 21 showed the effectiveness of mechanical air extraction and natural ventilation in reducing the risks of breathing shared air.

Extraction and

air conditioning

Despite the mechanical air extraction and ventilation, the high number of customers maintained the concentration of CO2 at high-risk levels

Source: Measurements of CO2 coordinated by Javier Ballester, professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Zaragoza and LIFTEC researcher

Mechanical Air Extraction

and Natural Ventilation

Measurements of CO2 carried out in a bar occupied by almost 100 people on January 21 showed the effectiveness of mechanical air extraction and natural ventilation in reducing the risks of breathing shared air.

Extraction and

air conditioning

Despite the mechanical air extraction and ventilation, the high number of customers maintained the concentration of CO2 at high-risk levels

Source: Measurements of CO2 coordinated by Javier Ballester, professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Zaragoza and LIFTEC researcher

Mechanical Air Extraction

and Natural Ventilation

Measurements of CO2 carried out in a bar occupied by almost 100 people on January 21 showed the effectiveness of mechanical air extraction and natural ventilation in reducing the risks of breathing shared air.

Extraction and air conditioning

Despite the mechanical air extraction and ventilation, the high number of customers maintained the concentration of CO2 at high-risk levels

Source: Measurements of CO2 coordinated by Javier Ballester, professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Zaragoza and LIFTEC researcher

Mechanical Air Extraction

and Natural Ventilation

Measurements of CO2 carried out in a bar occupied by almost 100 people on January 21 showed the effectiveness of mechanical air extraction and natural ventilation in reducing the risks of breathing shared air.

Extraction and air conditioning

Despite the mechanical air extraction and ventilation, the high number of customers maintained the concentration of CO2 at high-risk levels

Source: Measurements of CO2 coordinated by Javier Ballester, professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Zaragoza and LIFTEC researcher

But Del Val highlights a major drawback in CO measurement, namely that it does not distinguish between scenarios in which masks are worn or taken off. Measuring CO in a bar where you can uncover your mouth and talk and shout should not be the same as in a theater or a museum, where you are quiet all the time and wearing a mask, she says. Del Val believes that the benchmark CO levels for premises where the mask can be removed should be stricter. It would be a perfect tool for the hospitality industry, to get them on our side, she says. You have to support the bars, but first there needs to be a good understanding of what a lower-risk environment consists of, if using these tools.

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Avoiding coronavirus infection in indoor spaces: don't breathe other people's air - EL PAS in English

GENEVA The SARS-CoV-2 virus likely originated from human exploitation of wildlife, according to todays findings from a World Health Organization-led investigation.

The report, based on a mission to China by WHO-appointed experts, explored several theories about the pandemics cause. While no definitive conclusions were reached, the report calls for further research into wildlife and domestic animal farms in China and the global wildlife and domestic animal trade through which the virus could have been imported into the country. The report noted that all hypotheses for the pandemics origin remain under consideration.

The report comes as U.S. lawmakers consider the Preventing Future Pandemics Act, a bipartisan bill that would shut down the trade in live terrestrial wild animals for human consumption, close wildlife markets and spur international action to curtail future pandemics.

This report highlights the urgent need to curb wildlife exploitation and signals that wildlife trade could have led to the pandemic, said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Disease risk is a global threat. Whether a bat is captured for food in southeast Asia or to make a paperweight for a desk in the United States, peoples demand for wildlife anywhere in the world creates a risk of new diseases emerging.

Based on the mission results, the report highlights the grave risk wildlife and domestic animal farms pose for disease spillover. It specifically calls for further investigation into fur farms. The report notes that mink, a species commonly farmed for fur, could be the source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

We know the conditions at factory farms, especially those involving wild animals like mink, create perfect breeding grounds for highly contagious diseases that can mutate and spread between people and animals, said Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center. Now the only question is, will we act on this knowledge to help prevent the next pandemic, or will we sit back and let it happen all over again?

The report analyzed 38,515 livestock and poultry samples and 41,696 wild animal samples gathered from 31 provinces in China from 2018 to 2020, but none were positive for the coronavirus. The United States lacks such a surveillance system for disease risk but drives wildlife exploitation by consuming roughly 20% of the global wildlife trade. Without tighter restrictions, the U.S. will continue to fuel disease risk.

Despite extensive surveillance of livestock and wildlife in China, the pandemic wasnt stopped. Its clear that surveillance isnt the answer. Lawmakers need to curtail wildlife exploitation to halt new diseases from emerging, said Sanerib. Its time to pass the Preventing Future Pandemics Act and for the U.S. to lead the world in conserving and restoring wildlife populations and natural ecosystems. Human salvation rests in the preservation of nature.

The current pandemic is a symptom of the ongoing extinction crises. Exploitation of wildlife is the primary driver of the loss of marine species and the secondary driver of the loss of terrestrial species, according to global experts. Curtailing the exploitation of wildlife and nature to curb future pandemic risk will also help mitigate biodiversity loss.

In Oregon legislation has been introduced to phase out Oregons mink farming industry and provide training and support to the mink farmers adversely affected by the virus. If passed into law, that legislation, S.B. 832, will take a vital step towards protecting communities and wildlife against future pandemic threats.

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WHO Report: Wildlife Exploitation Likely Caused COVID-19 Pandemic - Center for Biological Diversity