Daily Archives: June 4, 2021

Instructions for New York State-Operated Vaccination Sites

Step 1:Determine eligibility and schedule an appointment.New York State's online scheduling toolis the quickest way to confirmyou're eligible and make an appointment. You can also call the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829). Once you have successfully scheduled an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email that contains a barcode. You will need to bring this to your appointment.

Step 2:Complete the Vaccine Form.Once you have a confirmed appointment, you must complete theNew York State COVID-19 Vaccine Form. This form shouldbe filled outonline and you will receive a submission ID indicating completion. You will need to bring the submission ID to your appointment.If you cannot submit theform online, itwill be availableat the vaccination sites.

Step 3:Bring proof of eligibility to your appointment.Individuals must bring proof of age.For individuals younger than the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must provide consent for vaccination. A parent or legal guardianmust provide verbal consent either while accompanying the minor to the vaccination appointment, or by phone at the time of the vaccination appointment.If the minor is 12-15 years old, they must arrive with a parent or guardian OR they need to bring another adult caregiver who has a signed designation from the parent or guardian and the parent/guardian must be available by phone.

Step 4: If you are getting the Pfizer vaccine, your second dose appointment will be scheduled automatically when booking your first vaccine dose.Your second appointment will be scheduled for the same time and at the same location, three weeks following your first dose. You will receive a confirmation email with details about your second dose appointment within a few days of receiving your first dose. Please keep this in mind when scheduling a first dose appointment. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one dose.

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COVID-19 Vaccine | COVID-19 Vaccine

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending allowing people to mix COVID-19 vaccine doses. Here, people walk past a vaccination clinic this week in Toronto. Zou Zheng/Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images hide caption

Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization is recommending allowing people to mix COVID-19 vaccine doses. Here, people walk past a vaccination clinic this week in Toronto.

Canada's public health agency says people can mix COVID-19 vaccines if they want to, citing cases where local supply shortages or health concerns might otherwise prevent some from completing their two-dose vaccination regimen.

The new recommendations come after safety concerns were raised linking the AstraZeneca vaccine to the potential for dangerous blood clots a condition the health agency calls "rare but serious." That vaccine is not authorized for use in the U.S., but the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which has faced similar scrutiny, is. Both of them are viral vector vaccines.

Several Canadian provinces have recently moved to mix vaccines, the CBC reported, because of supply issues, when the vaccine used for a first dose isn't available for the second.

Public confidence is also an issue: Health officials cite a study from late April that found more than 90% of participants said they were comfortable with either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, but only 52% of participants said they were comfortable with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Both Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines.

Based on the available evidence, "we are recommending that someone who received a first dose of the AstraZeneca ... vaccine may receive an mRNA vaccine for their second dose," said Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh, who chairs Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

The agency cites the results of a study in Germany and clinical trials in the U.K. and Spain as supporting the safety of vaccine interchangeability. It says it expects further data from ongoing studies in Canada and elsewhere in the coming months and will update its recommendations if warranted.

Nationwide, the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines have increasingly become the primary vaccines administered in Canada, according to the latest government data.

The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines "can be considered interchangeable" between the first and second doses, Canada's advisory committee on immunization says in its recommendations that were updated this week.

Canadian officials are hoping the new guidance will help bridge a wide gap in their vaccination program. As of late May, 50.6% of Canada's population had received at least one vaccination shot but only 4.6% of the population was fully vaccinated.

"This is not a new concept," the advisory group said of the practice known as heterologous vaccination. In the past, the group added, "Different vaccine products have been used to complete a vaccine series for influenza, hepatitis A, and others to complete a vaccine series for influenza, hepatitis A, and others."

Several European countries have already been encouraging people who've received a first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine to make either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines their second shot, including France, Spain and Germany.

In addition to potentially easing vaccine reluctance, mixing vaccines could also bring other benefits.

As NPR's Joe Palca reported last month: "Basically, all vaccines work by showing people's immune systems something that looks like an invading virus but really isn't. If the real virus ever comes along, their immune systems will recognize it and be prepared to fight it off.

"Using two different vaccines is a bit like giving the immune system two pictures of the virus, maybe one face-on and one in profile."

As other countries authorize mixing vaccines, the U.S. is not following suit in part because the Food and Drug Administration hasn't authorized the AstraZeneca vaccine. And unlike that vaccine, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose.

When asked for comment about the strategy of mixing vaccines, an FDA spokesperson cited a lack of data about the interchangeability of the vaccine with other COVID-19 vaccines.

"Individuals who have received one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should receive a second dose of the same vaccine to complete the vaccination series," the spokesperson added.

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Want To Mix 2 Different COVID-19 Vaccines? Canada Is Fine With That - NPR

In March and April, when COVID-19 vaccinations were starting to keep older adults out of the hospital, more and more children between 12 and 17 years old were being admitted. Many were seriously sick: around one-third of kids in this age group who were in the hospital for COVID-19 this year were in the intensive care unit, a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report shows. None died.

The risk of getting seriously ill and needing to be hospitalized from COVID-19 increases with age, but kids and teenagers can still get sick. Hospitalization rates from COVID-19 in this group were, overall, around 2.5 to 3 times higher than those from the flu over the last three flu seasons. The new CDC data underscores the importance of COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during a press briefing Thursday. Vaccine shots are now authorized for anyone over the age of 12.

[The findings] force us to redouble our motivation to get our adolescents and young adults vaccinated, she said.

The CDC report looked at data from a network of health centers in 14 states. It found that 204 adolescents were hospitalized for COVID-19 between January 1st and March 31st, 2021. Of that group, 64 were admitted to an intensive care unit and 10 were placed on a ventilator. Around two-thirds had underlying medical conditions, but about 30 percent did not, showing that healthy kids can still get seriously sick.

Hospitalization rates for this age group peaked during January, dropped off in February, and then started climbing back up during the beginning of March. Maryland and Michigan both had their highest ever rates in April both states saw overall surges in case numbers during that time.

A combination of factors may have contributed to that uptick, the CDC report said. Kids started returning to school and in-person extracurricular activities during that time, and COVID-19 outbreaks can occur in those environments. In addition, variant forms of the virus that can spread more easily were circulating. Some areas also started to ease up on COVID-19 restrictions as adults got vaccinated against the disease, which could have let the virus spread among people, including adolescents, who werent yet eligible for the shots.

Almost 6.4 million kids between 12 and 17 in the US have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, as of June 4th.

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COVID-19 hospitalization rates in adolescents went up during March and April - The Verge

The WestVirginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reportsas of June 4, 2021, there have been 2,939,109 total confirmatory laboratory resultsreceived for COVID-19, with 162,232 total cases and 2,813 deaths.

DHHRhas confirmed the deaths of a75-year old male from Mercer County, a 66-year old male from Monongalia County,a 54-year old male from Nicholas County, a 40-year old female from KanawhaCounty, 62-year old male from Taylor County, and a 93-year old male fromBarbour County.

Withsummer around the corner, vaccination is the key to a return to normal timeswith family and friends, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. Maketime today to schedule a COVID vaccine.

CASES PERCOUNTY: Barbour(1,503), Berkeley (12,732), Boone (2,149), Braxton (989), Brooke (2,232),Cabell (8,819), Calhoun (372), Clay (539), Doddridge (628), Fayette (3,524),Gilmer (874), Grant (1,296), Greenbrier (2,863), Hampshire (1,910), Hancock(2,839), Hardy (1,557), Harrison (6,052), Jackson (2,213), Jefferson (4,759), Kanawha(15,368), Lewis (1,270), Lincoln (1,559), Logan (3,229), Marion (4,579),Marshall (3,522), Mason (2,037), McDowell (1,602), Mercer (5,076), Mineral(2,948), Mingo (2,702), Monongalia (9,358), Monroe (1,187), Morgan (1,223),Nicholas (1,862), Ohio (4,291), Pendleton (721), Pleasants (959), Pocahontas(680), Preston (2,937), Putnam (5,293), Raleigh (6,987), Randolph (2,800),Ritchie (753), Roane (651), Summers (847), Taylor (1,256), Tucker (547), Tyler(738), Upshur (1,942), Wayne (3,167), Webster (533), Wetzel (1,378), Wirt(451), Wood (7,902), Wyoming (2,027).

Delays may be experienced with the reportingof information from the local health department to DHHR. As case surveillancecontinues at the local health department level, it may reveal that those testedin a certain county may not be a resident of that county, or even the state asan individual in question may have crossed the state border to be tested. Such is the case of Boone, Grant, Mason,Morgan, and Wayne counties in this report. Please visit http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov for more detailed information.

West Virginians 12years and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.Tolearn more about the vaccine, or to find a vaccine site near you, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.

Free pop-up COVID-19 testing is available todayin Barbour, Berkeley, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Mineral,Monongalia, Morgan, and Wayne counties.

Barbour County

9:00 AM 11:00 AM, Barbour County HealthDepartment, 109 Wabash Avenue, Philippi, WV

1:00 PM 5:00 PM, Junior Volunteer FireDepartment, 331 Row Avenue, Junior, WV

BerkeleyCounty10:00 AM 5:00 PM, 891 Auto Parts Place, Martinsburg, WV10:00 AM 5:00 PM, Ambrose Park, 25404 Mall Drive, Martinsburg, WV

Grant County

11:00 AM 3:00 PM, Viking Memorial FieldParking Lot, 157-109 Rig Street, Petersburg, WV (optionalpre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

JeffersonCounty

10:00 AM 6:00 PM, Hollywood Casino, 750 HollywoodDrive, Charles Town, WV

12:00 PM 5:00 PM, Shepherd University Wellness CenterParking Lot, 164 University Drive, Shepherdstown, WV

LincolnCounty

9:00AM 3:00 PM, Lincoln County Health Department, 8008 Court Avenue, Hamlin, WV (optional pre-registration:https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Logan County

12:00 PM 5:00 PM, Old 84 Lumber Building,100 Recovery Road, Peach Creek, WV

Marshall County

12:00 PM 6:00 PM, Benwood City Building,430 Main Street, Benwood, WV (optionalpre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

MineralCounty

10:00AM 6:00 PM, Mineral County Health Department, 541 Harley O. Staggers Drive,Keyser, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Monongalia County

9:00 AM 12:00 PM, WVU Recreation Center,Lower Level, 2001 Rec Center Drive, Morgantown, WV

Morgan County

11:00 AM 4:00 PM, Valley Health WarMemorial Hospital, 1 Health Way, Berkeley Springs, WV

WayneCounty

10:00AM 2:00 PM, Wayne Community Center, 11580 Rt. 152, Wayne, WV

Foradditional free COVID-19 testing opportunities across the state, please visit https://dhhr.wv.gov/COVID-19/pages/testing.aspx.

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COVID-19 Daily Update 6-4-2021 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

DES MOINES- Today, the Auditor released a report on a special investigation of the Step Up, Stop the Spread public service announcement campaign that occurred in November 2020, the height of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), or COVID-19, Pandemic in Iowa. The campaign was designed to raise public awareness in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Im proud of the Step Up, Stop the Spread public service announcement, Gov. Reynolds said. I felt it was important for me and other leaders to address Iowans during the height of the pandemic. And the law clearly allows it.

In his report, the Auditor claims the Governor mishandled CARES Act dollars by using those funds for video advertisements containing the likeness, voice, or name of the Governor in violation of Iowa Code section 68A.405A.

That statute reads, in part:

Except as provided in sections 29C.3 and 29C.6, a statewide elected official or member of the general assembly shall not permit the expenditure of public moneys under the control of the statewide elected official or member of the general assembly, including but not limited to

The auditors reportignores the opening clause: Except as provided in sections 29C.3 and 29C.6. That is a significant error, as 29C.6 relates to the powers and authority of the Governor during a public health disaster emergency.

The Step Up, Stop the Spread campaign promoted social distancing and mask-wearing in November 2020, which was the peak of positive cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. Hospitals and health care facilities were filling with patients being treated for COVID-19.And significantly, the Governors Public Health Proclamation of Disaster Emergency mandated (in certain situations) mask-wearing and required social distancing.

Promoting the requirements and recommendations of a disaster proclamation in a public awareness campaign is a clear example of the public-emergency exemption in Iowas image-and-likeness statute. And in case of any confusion, Section 29C.6(10)--which, again, is specifically mentioned in section 68A.405A-- provides for the use of all available resourcesof the state government as reasonably necessary to cope with the disaster emergency and of each political subdivision of the state.

Auditor Sand didnt once ask to meet with our team regarding his concern or his investigation. If he had, we would have pointed him to this essential part of the law that he clearly missed, said Chief of Staff Sara Craig.

Any competent reading of the plain language of state code would have acknowledged the role of the Governor in promoting an emergency order. Neither the Governors Office nor the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board were consulted prior to the issuance of Auditor Sands report. If that had happened, anyone within those offices could have directed the Auditor to the plain language of Iowas image-and-likeness statute and pointed out that, during a disaster emergency, the Governor may address Iowans in a public service announcement.

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Gov. Reynolds releases statement on COVID-19 public service announcement | Office of the Governor of Iowa - Governor Kim Reynolds

The Regeneron Pharmaceuticals company logo is seen on a building at the company's Westchester campus in Tarrytown, New York, U.S. September 17, 2020. Picture taken September 17, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

The U.S. health regulator authorized a lower dose of Regeneron Pharmaceutical's COVID-19 antibody cocktail that can be given by injection, a move that could ease logistical challenges stemming from administering a higher dose intravenously.

The therapy, REGEN-COV, and a similar treatment developed by rival Eli Lilly (LLY.N) were being given through one-time infusion and required patients to be isolated.

Regeneron had been working on a lower dose of its cocktail that can be given subcutaneously to address the challenges that have weighed on demand for antibody drugs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration had in November authorized a 2,400 mg dose of REGEN-COV, administered as a single dose directly injected to a vein for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

The agency has now lowered it to 1,200 mg and allowed the administration of casirivimab and imdevimab by injecting under the skin when intravenous infusion is not possible and would lead to treatment delay, Regeneron said on Friday. (https://bit.ly/34Lt0TQ)

The therapy belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which mimic natural antibodies the body produces to fight off the infection.

Eli Lilly's antibody combination received U.S. emergency use authorization in February, while an antibody drug by Vir Biotechnology Inc (VIR.O) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK.L), which is also administered through intravenous infusion, was granted authorization late last month. read more

Regeneron said it expects to submit an application for full approval of REGEN-COV in non-hospitalized patients later this summer.

The drugmaker expects to deliver at least 1 million doses of the therapy to the U.S. government in the second quarter and said the government may accept additional doses of up to 1.25 million doses through September.

Regeneron is also developing the cocktail as a preventive medicine. read more

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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U.S. authorizes Regeneron's COVID-19 antibody therapy for injection - Reuters

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Biggest challenge to reach herd immunity is vaccinating those who had COVID-19, APH says - KXAN.com

Harrisburg, PA - The Department of Health today announced that additional COVID-19 testing sites will open to the public in Luzerne and Cumberland counties. The sites are available through a partnership with AMI Expeditionary Healthcare (AMI).

The virus is still present in our communities, which is evident from the daily count of COVID-19 cases statewide, Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam said. This reinforces the need for continued testing across the state. We encourage anyone who feels they need or want a test to take advantage of any of the COVID-19 testing clinics, if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19. Much of the news and attention has shifted to COVID-19 vaccines, but testing is still a critical part of our response to ultimately stop the spread of COVID-19.

Luzerne County

Beginning Monday, June 7 through Thursday, June 10, testing will be available daily, from 9 AM to 6 PM for the Pierogi Fest at 470 Main Street, Edwardsville, PA, 18704. This will be a drive-thru and walk-up site.

Cumberland County

Beginning Tuesday, June 8 through Saturday, June 19, testing will be available daily, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 AM to 6 PM at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, 1000 Bryn Mawr Road, Carlisle, PA, 17013. This will be a drive-thru and walk-up site. Testing will take place within the pavilion on the southeast side of the Fairgrounds. Please enter through Gate 3, located just off of Bryn Mawr Road. When testing is completed, please exit out of the same gate.

There are two other AMI COVID-19 testing sites currently operating across the commonwealth:

The Luzerne county site at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport will run Mondays through Fridays through June 25.

The Centre county site will run Tuesdays through Saturday through July 3.

In addition, Pennsylvanians can find testing sites in their area on the locator map here.

Up to 450 people can be tested per day. Mid-nasal passage swab PCR tests will be performed. Testing is on a first-come, first-serve basis and is completely free. No appointment is necessary. Testing is open to individuals who are not county residents. Patients must be ages 3 and older and are not required to show symptoms of COVID-19 in order to be tested. Patients are encouraged to bring a photo-ID. Registration will also be completed on-site. The turnaround time for testing results is one to three days after testing.

The AMI testing site will be open to anyone who feels they need a test. It is important that even people with no symptoms who have tested positive isolate in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Individuals who are tested should self-quarantine while they await their test results. Individuals who live with other people should self-quarantine in a private room and use a private bathroom, if possible. Others living in the home with the individual awaiting test results should also stay at home. The department has additional instructions for individuals waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Individuals who test positive will receive a phone call from AMI while individuals who test negative will receive a secured-PDF emailed to them from AMI.

The department believes that increased testing in counties will help determine the prevalence of the virus and assist the county in moving forward. There are currently 28 counties in the commonwealth where the percent of positive cases is above 5 percent on the Early Warning Monitoring Dashboard. Each county is being monitored as the state continues to examine all available data.

The department has contracted with AMI to perform pop-up COVID-19 testing in counties across the state since September 2020. The contracts were funded by the federal Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Enhancing Detection grant. Counties under the initial contract, as well as the total number of patients tested, can be found here. Counties served under the first contract extension, as well as the total number of patients tested, can be found here.

From March 2020 through June 3, 2021, the department has received 14,098,785 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. From May 2020 through June 3, 2021, the department has received 3,558,303 antigen test results. The total combined number of tests reported to the department is 17,657,088 since COVID-19 testing began in the commonwealth. The number of Pennsylvanians who have been tested by PCR or antigen tests is 6,219,233 which roughly equates to 48.6 percent of the Pennsylvania population. Some people have been tested more than once.

Counties in need of a long-term COVID-19 testing site should contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health to discuss the possibility of setting up a pop-up site through AMI.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people who are fully vaccinated do not get testing following a known exposure, if asymptomatic, with some exceptions for specific settings. Otherwise, the department recommends getting tested for COVID-19 if you come in contact with an infected individual or if you are experiencing symptoms.

For the latest information for individuals, families, businesses and schools, visit Responding to COVID-19 on pa.gov.

The Department of Health is working to ensure the vaccine is provided in a way that is ethical, equitable and efficient to all Pennsylvanians:

All Pennsylvanians age 12 and older are eligible to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine. Use Vaccine Finder to find a COVID-19 vaccine provider near you.

A commonwealth COVID-19 vaccination guide explains the current process for getting one. Pennsylvanians with questions about the vaccination process can call the Department of Health hotline at 1-877-724-3258.

All of the locations that received vaccine and how much they have received can be found on the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution webpage.

Vaccine dashboard data can also be found on the website to find more information on the doses administered and showcase demographic information.

Frequently asked questions can be found here.

The Wolf Administration stresses the role Pennsylvanians play in helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19:

Get vaccinated with one of the three safe and effective vaccines available to provide the best layer of protection.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Cover any coughs or sneezes with your elbow, not your hands.

Clean surfaces frequently.

Stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19, especially if you are unwell.

Download theCOVIDAlert PA app and make your phone part of the fight.The free app can be found in theGoogle Play Storeand theApple App Storeby searching for covidalert pa.

Updated Coronavirus Links: Press Releases, State Lab Photos, Graphics

Press releases regarding coronavirus

Latest information on the coronavirus

Photos of the states lab in Exton(for download and use)

Coronavirus and preparedness graphics(located at the bottom of the page)

Community preparedness and procedures materials

MEDIA CONTACT: Mark O'Neill - ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov

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Department of Health Announces Free COVID-19 Testing Site in Luzerne and Cumberland Counties - Pennsylvania Pressroom

As part of an effort to Bring Back Louisiana Summer and encourage people to go Sleeves Up and get their COVID-19 shots, free admission to Louisiana state parks is being offered now for anyone who has been vaccinated, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser announced today. Vaccinated individuals can gain free entry into all of Louisianas 21 State Parks through July 31. This offer is available to all visitors from Louisiana and elsewhere who have been vaccinated, no matter when they got their shot. This offer does not extend to tour groups.

With new and improved facilities, there has never been a better time to take advantage of Louisianas beautiful state parks. Many sites also offer splash pads for kids. Visit LAStateParks.Com for a full list of sites. These perks are part of the Bring Back Louisiana Summer initiative, which will announce more fun rewards in the near future.

Louisianas state parks are beautiful, educational and now free for those who are vaccinated against COVID-19, which is a great way to help Bring Back Louisiana and celebrate our state this summer, Gov. Edwards said. I appreciate Lt. Governor Nungessers support of the Bring Back Louisiana campaign and for making admission free for the vaccinated, Gov. Edwards said. In addition to the offer of free entrance in Louisiana State Parks, a number of national companies are offering incentives to their customers and employees who take the COVID-19 vaccine. Today we announced some new perks for people who are vaccinated, but we have more announcements planned for the coming weeks, so people should go get their shots now so they dont miss out. Right now, nearly 32 percent of our population is fully vaccinated, and that number needs to keep growing.

"As we open our doors to tourists from across Louisiana and the world, we are glad to participate and offer this incentive, that will bring visitors to our beautiful State Parks, Lt. Gov. Nungesser said.

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Louisiana State Parks Offer Free Admission to People Vaccinated Against COVID-19 as the State Works to Bring Back Louisiana Summer | Office of...

The global tally for the coronavirus-borne illness climbed above 172 million on Friday, while the death toll rose to 3.7 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. remained in the lead globally in cases with 33.3 million and deaths with 596,434, JHU data show, but the seven-day average for cases has fallen 48% from two weeks ago, according to a New York Times tracker, for deaths has dropped 28% and for hospitalizations has declined 22% as vaccinations continue to increase. The number of Americans fully vaccinated increased to 136.6 million, or 41.2% of the total population, while the number of people who are at least 18 years old who have been fully vaccinated grew to 134 million, or 52% of the population. The World Health Organization warned on Thursday of a possible third wave of cases in Africa, with eight countries reporting a surge of more than 30% in new infections, the New York Times reported. The variant that first emerged in India, now called delta variant, is believed to be contributing to the surge.India is second in cases at 28.6 million, and third by fatalities at 340,702, numbers that are held to be vastly undercounted given a shortage of tests. Brazil is third with 16.8 million cases, and second in deaths at 469,388. The U.K. has 4.5 million cases and 128,075 deaths, the fifth-highest toll in the world and most in Europe.

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Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 172 million and more than 2 billion vaccine doses have been administered - MarketWatch