Category Archives: Corona Virus

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Fifty-one Ohio counties remain on red alert for concern of coronavirus spread, the state announced Thursday, as the case rate overall in Ohio has been increasing this spring after a sharp decline through most of the winter.

There were 167.1 known new cases per 100,000 people over the last two weeks, up from the rate of 146.9 per 100,000 reported a week ago, and moving away from Gov. Mike DeWines stated goal of 50 before he will lift his health orders that range from mandated masks in public to limited crowds at entertainment venues.

The rate is based on when people noticed symptoms, not when their cases were reported by the state, which could be days or weeks later. And it excludes incarcerated individuals.

We have in fact seen an increase in COVID-19 activity in Ohio that mirrors what we have seen nationally, said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, chief medical officer for the Ohio Department of Health, noting that new strains of the virus have accounted for 80% of Ohios new cases. Here in Ohio variant activity continues to rise.

Vanderhoff noted a sharper increase in new cases along the northern border with Michigan, which has encountered one the nations sharpest increases.

What we have to do is stay on defense by wearing a mask, DeWine said. The other thing is the vaccinations.

The state reported close to 3.5 million Ohioans have received at least their first dose, with all doses completed for about 2 million.

This is a race, DeWine said in encouraging people to get vaccinated. We cannot vaccinate fast enough.

But while the case rate statewide has increased, the number of counties on red alert has declined. A week ago 55 counties were listed on red alert in the states coronavirus advisory system. This compared with 66, 76, 80 and 84 red alert counties the previous four weeks.

Among the red counties are Cuyahoga and each of the six adjacent counties in Greater Cleveland.

Level 3 red alert, according to the health department, means there remains a public emergency for increased exposure and spread, and that people should exercise a high degree of caution. The alert system takes into account more than just new case rates, but also trends in hospitalizations, doctor visits and emergency room visits related to COVID-19.

But for the last several weeks the focus has moved away from the alert map and to the Thursday updates for new cases over the previous two weeks. This is because DeWine on March 4 announced he would condition removal of his health orders to the rate dropping to 50 cases per 100,000.

At the time of his announcement, rates were going down sharply. But they have reversed. The last two updates to the rate, reported each Thursday, mark the only week-to-week increases this year.

Ohio was last below 50 per 100,000 in June. The rate was a record high of 845.5 in mid-December.

Ohio's coronavirus case rate per 100,000 residents, excluding incarcerated individuals, as reported by the Ohio Department of Health. The latest report released on Thursday, April 1, was based on data available through Wednesday, March 31.Rich Exner, cleveland.com

Level 2 orange alert (32 counties): Adams, Allen, Ashtabula, Auglaize, Brown, Columbiana, Coshocton, Darke, Fayette, Fulton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Jackson, Knox, Lawrence, Logan, Meigs, Monroe, Morrow, Noble, Paulding, Preble, Putnam, Scioto, Shelby, Tuscarawas, Van Wert, Vinton, Wayne and Williams.

Level 1 yellow alert (5): Carroll, Clinton, Holmes, Mercer and Morgan.

Case rates by county range from 18.2 per 100,000 in Holmes County to 317 per 100,000 in Clark County. Just four counties are below the target rate of 50 per 100,000 - Homes, Mercer (36.4), Morgan (41.4) and Carroll (44.6).

In Greater Cleveland, the case rate is highest in Summit County:

* Cuyahoga: 194.3 per 100,000 this week versus 167, 162 and 190.6 in the updates each of the previous three weeks.

* Geauga: 123.9 versus 106.8, 122.8 and 147.4 the last three weeks.

* Lake: 136.9 versus, 126, 149.5 and 160.8.

* Lorain: 198.8 versus 148.5, 143 and 159.1.

* Medina County: 178 versus 190.8, 206.4 and 189.7.

* Portage County: 211.1 versus 186.5, 164.3 and 155.7.

* Summit County: 267.3 versus 219, 203.7 and 184.3.

Heres a closer look at the advisory system introduced in early July. Alert levels are determined by the number of warning benchmarks met. But once a county reaches red alert, it does not drop unless its rate of new cases also drops below 100 per 100,000 over two weeks.

* 1. New cases - Alert triggered when there are 50 new cases per cases 100,000 residents over the last two weeks.

* 2. Increase in new cases - Alert triggered by an increase in cases for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the date of onset of symptoms, not when the cases are reported.

* 3. Non-congregate living cases - Alert triggered when at least 50% of the new cases in one of the last three weeks have occurred in outside congregate living spaces such as nursing homes and prisons.

* 4. Emergency rooms - Alert triggered when there is an increase in visits for COVID-like symptoms or a diagnosis for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks.

* 5. Doctor visits - Alert triggered when there is an increase in out-patient visits resulting in confirmed cases or suspected diagnosis for COVID-19 for five straight days at any point in the last three weeks.

* 6. Hospitalizations - Alert triggered when there is an increase in new COVID-19 patients for five straight days at any point over the last three weeks. This is based on the county or residence, not the location of the hospital.

* 7. Intensive Care Unit occupancy - Alert triggered when ICU occupancy in a region exceeds 80% of total ICU beds and at least 20% of the beds are being used for coronavirus patients for at least three days in the last week.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.

Previous stories

How close is your ZIP code to reaching the goal of 50 coronavirus cases per 100,000, set by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine?

How do 2021 births and deaths factor into payments under the third stimulus package? - Thats Rich! Q&A

Decline in Ohio nursing home coronavirus cases levels off

See trends, update, including the percent vaccinated by county

Continued here:

Fewer Ohio counties on red alert for coronavirus, but statewide case rate is increasing, health department re - cleveland.com

The number of people being vaccinated against COVID-19 is increasing every day in the United States. On average, more than 2.8 million people are being vaccinated against the disease every day.

While vaccines are a vital part of the path out of this pandemic, theyre not fail-proof. In rare cases, officials are reporting breakthrough infections.

In these rare cases, people can still develop COVID-19 despite vaccination.

But experts say these rare cases are expected as more people get vaccinated, and they may ultimately help officials stamp out the coronavirus.

A breakthrough case is when someone develops an illness despite already being fully vaccinated.

This isnt a reason to avoid getting vaccinated. Theres no vaccine that can provide 100 percent immunity against any disease.

Experts say these rare breakthrough COVID-19 cases will give experts a way to determine the extent to which COVID-19 vaccines work and what coronavirus variants may be causing these cases despite vaccination.

I dont think we need to be overly concerned as of yet, said Dr. William Schaffner, professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

We should know that these vaccines are not perfect, and under ideal circumstances they provide up to 95 percent chance of protection. Not everyone, particularly those that are frail and partly immunocompromised, may not even get 95 percent protection, he said.

Additionally, while a COVID-19 vaccine isnt completely protective against symptoms, experts stress the vaccine is extremely effective at preventing the most serious complications that lead to hospitalization and death.

In clinical trials, people given COVID-19 vaccines were not hospitalized even in rare cases of developing the disease.

Fully vaccinated people have some immunity against COVID-19, particularly against the strain of the coronavirus the vaccine was made for.

And while COVID-19 vaccines have some protection against several of these variants, it doesnt give full immunity particularly in people who may be immunocompromised.

Most people will mount a strong immunologic response. But individuals who are highly immunocompromised may have a more blunted response, and these individuals need to remain careful even if they are vaccinated, said Dr. David Hirschwerk, attending physician in the department of infectious diseases at Northwell Health in Manhasset, New York.

All of this is expected.

People who are immunocompromised dont always mount the strongest response to vaccines.

And even people who arent immunocompromised can still be vulnerable to breakthrough cases.

Experts say researching these breakthrough cases will be key in understanding the real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines and the likelihood a coronavirus variant may be able to evade vaccine protection.

Scientists can study any trends and predictors of which individuals may be less protected from vaccination, Hirschwerk said.

Researchers will be studying which groups of people get these breakthrough cases, how frequently they occur, where they occur, and the genetic sequencing of breakthrough variants to figure out how to best fight back against COVID-19.

Schaffner pointed out that by studying breakthrough cases, scientists can monitor for troubling signs of rising variants.

By understanding variants we are able to understand how commonly these phenomena are occurring, Schaffner said of breakthrough cases. And if they are preferentially being caused by variants, we may need a booster dose that protects against those strains.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is continuing to assess how COVID-19 vaccines are working in real-world conditions.

Experts will also closely watch what happens when vaccinated people develop COVID-19 and what their symptoms are like.

The majority of these will very likely be of people with mild to moderate symptoms, Hirschwerk told Healthline.

Breakthrough infections are an expected outcome in any vaccination process. No vaccines is 100 percent fail-proof.

These breakthrough cases arent a reason to panic. Instead, experts say they show why we still need to practice mask wearing, handwashing, and physical distancing measures while scientists learn how and why these cases are occurring.

And most importantly, these breakthrough cases shouldnt deter the public from getting vaccines, as they do work.

COVID-19 vaccines remain extremely effective in preventing severe and life threatening cases of COVID-19.

Rajiv Bahl, MD, MBA, MS, is an emergency medicine physician and health writer. You can find him at http://www.RajivBahlMD.com.

Originally posted here:

Rare 'Breakthrough' Cases of COVID-19 Occurring in Vaccinated People - Healthline

KINGSTON, N.Y. Ulster County reported Thursday a steep decline in active COVID-19 cases while saying its most recent positivity rate soared past 8%.

Ulster also said Thursday that there were two more COVID-19 related deaths, bringing that total to 245 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

Editors note: In the interest of public safety, critical coronavirus coverage is being provided free to all readers. Support reporting like thiswith a subscription to the Freeman.

According to its online dashboard, Ulster reported 1,788 active cases of COVID-19, down 90 from 1,878 cases reported on Tuesday.

The Ulster total is still higher than its recent low of 1,488, reached on March 1, but also below its peak of 2,622, set on Jan. 30.

Ulster County reported Thursday that 98 of its residents were diagnosed with COVID-19 among the most recent 1,197 to be tested, a positivity rate of 8.2%.

Ulster reported on Thursday it has had 13,179 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 11,146 recoveries since March 2020.

According to the state COVID-19 vaccine tracker, 35.5% of Ulster residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. The tracker says that 32,311 have completed with vaccination series and 63,331 have gotten at least one shot.

Dr.Neal Smoller, owner of Village Apothecary in Woodstock , NY gives out vaccinations at Best Buy in Town Of Ulster, New York.

Dutchess County said Thursday that its active COVID-19 cases saw the largest decrease this week from 1,405 reported on Wednesday to 1,361, down by 44.

Dutchess has been experiencing a weekslong rise in its number of active COVID-19 cases. The number peaked at 2,576 on Jan. 16 and then fell to 713 by Feb. 15 before starting a steady increase.

Meanwhile, Dutchess also reported Thursday that there were no additional deaths, with the total remaining at 425 since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The county also reported Thursday that 62 residents were hospitalized with COVID-19, up by three reported the day before.

Dutchess has had 26,044 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the local outbreak began. Its latest seven-day average of positive test results is 4.34%.

The vaccine tracker says 31.9% of Dutchess County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It says that 48,928 people have completed the vaccination process while93,658 people have got at least one dose.

Nursing Homes

The state reported Thursday a COVID-19 related death of a resident at the Golden Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingston. The resident died outside the nursing home, the state said.

There have been 21 COVID-related deaths of residents at the Golden Hill facility since the beginning of the pandemic and 10 facility residents have died elsewhere, according to state numbers.

In all, Ulster County has had 88 nursing home residents die in facilities and 34 who have lost their lives from the disease elsewhere.

For local coverage related to the coronavirus, go to bit.ly/DFCOVID19. To check vaccination eligibility in Ulster County and sign up, go to vaccinateulster.com.

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Coronavirus: Ulster active cases drop but county reports two more deaths and rise in rate of new cases - The Daily Freeman

Maine airport officials say passengers may soon be required to show proof they've been vaccinated to travel by plane.

BANGOR, Maine More Mainers are traveling again, especially by air.

Travel at the Portland International Jetport is down 50-60 percent from this time two years ago. Traffic at the Bangor Internal Airport was down to about 65 percent in February compared to the same month last year. Despite this, traffic is steadily picking up.

According to the Transportation Security Administration, 1.5 million Americans traveled on a plane this past Sunday alone. This is the busiest travel day for the country's airports sinceMarch 12, 2020, when more than 1.7 million people were screened.

A lot of people are coming in, theyll sit at my desk and the first thing theyll say is, were vaccinated. Were ready to travel,' said Mary Ellen Lessard, travel agent at AAA Northern New England.

Lessard added, many folks are looking for a getaway to Maine and state parks around the country.

"I think people are just housebound and they want to get out. One of the important things too is all the airlines are removing their reissue fees. If [passengers] need to change [their flight] they can do so without a hefty fee, said Lessard.

Although there is no official mandate for showing proof youve received a COVID-19 vaccine to travel here in the state, that might change.

There are a lot of conversations happening within the industry on how do we streamline this so that a customer can enter their information once and have it work for all airlines, said Portland International Jetport assistant director Zachary Sundquist.

Airport officials are also stressing the importance of keeping up to date on travel restrictions.

Were directing people to the CDC and their travel alerts, and also to the particular state [passengers are] going to to get the information because it does change on a fairly regular basis," said Aimee Tibeaude, Bangor International Airport marketing and business development manager.

Tibeaude also wants folks to remember that real ID compliance for Mainers starts in October. Those planning to fly that month or anytime after will need a real ID or passport.

More:

More Mainers are booking flights as the coronavirus rages on - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ

TipRanks

Arguably the most controversial on the Street, penny stocks are a hot-button issue. Usually, there isnt a lot of middle-ground with respect to these tickers priced for less than $5 apiece. Dividing market watchers into two distinct groups, both sides present valid arguments laying out the pros and cons. Sure, there is reason enough to be skeptical. Often, a cheap stock is cheap for a reason, with the low share price potentially reflecting an underlying problem with the business, whether it be poor fundamentals or unbeatable headwinds. That said, a bargain price tag isnt always indicative of a lost cause. For some, better days are on the horizon, and for very little money, investors can control a lot more shares. Therefore, even minor upward movements could result in massive percentage gains, and thus, significant returns. As the nature of these investments makes it difficult to gauge the strength of their long-term growth prospects, one effective stock selecting strategy is to follow the analysts advice. Using TipRanks database, we locked in on two penny stocks that have garnered glowing reviews from the Street, enough to earn a Strong Buy consensus rating. Not to mention each offers massive upside potential. Savara, Inc. (SVRA) Well start with Savara, a biotech company focused on orphan lung diseases. Savaras main focus is on autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP), a rare condition in which protein material builds up in the lungs and prevents effective breathing. Current treatment involves a patient admission to intensive care, full anesthesia, and a literal washing out of the lungs an invasive and difficult procedure. Savara is researching medical alternatives. The companys lead drug candidate, molgradex, is an inhalant medication designed as a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; in short, it is targeted on the autoimmune flaw that prevents the bodys natural self-cleansing of the lungs. Molgradex has an Orphan Drug designation from the FDA, and has completed its Phase 3 IMPALA clinical study, with some mixed results. It missed the primary endpoint, but met a key secondary endpoint, and the company in December stated that it planned to meet with regulatory authorities to discuss further studies. Those discussions led to an open-label follow-up period, a study that focused on long-term safety in the use of molgradex for patients with aPAP. The study followed 128 patients over periods between 48 and 72 weeks, and showed improvements on two independent measures of gas exchange in the lungs. Considering these positive results, the company is starting molgradex on the IMPALA 2 study, an additional Phase 3 clinical trial, to begin in 2Q21. Currently going for $1.71 apiece, some members of the Street believe Savara's share price reflects an attractive entry point. Among the bulls is Piper Sandler analyst Yasmeen Rahimi who believes SVRA is an "ideal value pick." We believe that Molgradex has the potential to be a game-changing therapeutic for autoimmune pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (aPAP)... With a compelling MOA at its back, we have strong conviction in the clinical POS for Molgradex in a Phase 3 study (IMPALA 2), which we believe can improve upon its existing dataset in the 24-week double-blind Phase 2b/3 IMPALA 1 study in 138 aPAP patients that showed favorable safety... Therefore, we have a strong conviction that SVRA shares have the potential to make a comeback in valuation with Molgradex in IMPALA 2,which is expected to commence in 2Q21," Rahimi opined. "Importantly," the analyst added, "Molgradex has already received Orphan Drug Designation in the U.S. (with eligibility for seven years exclusivity) and EU (potential for 10 years exclusivity) as well as FDA Fast Track Designation and FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation, building up validation for Molgradex in aPAP." To this end, Rahimi rates SVRA an Overweight (i.e. Buy), while setting a $7 price target. This target suggests shares could soar 309% in the next year. (To watch Rahimis track record, click here) Overall, SVRA has 3 recent analyst reviews, and all are Buys, making the analyst consensus rating a Strong Buy. The average price target stands tall at $4.67, which suggests the stock has room for 173% upside in the next 12 months. (See SVRA stock analysis on TipRanks) Aquestive Therapeutics (AQST) Next up, Aquestive Therapeutics, is a diversified biotech firm with a range of products in all stages of the development pipeline, from pre-clinical to fully approved and on the market. Aquestive uses a unique film-based delivery mechanism for its medications. It has adapted the film delivery system for dosing through several locations in the mouth, including inside the cheek, under the tongue, and on the tongue. This companys major news item in the past few months was the FDA rejection of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Libervant buccal film. This medication is a formulation of diazepam, a well-known tranquilizer frequently used to treat seizures. Libervant, dosed through a buccal (inside the cheek) film, was designed to treat seizure clusters. In response to the NDA, the FDA sent Aquestive a Complete Response Letter (CRL) outlining issues with the drug. The CRL specifically cited lower drug exposure levels in patients in certain weight groups. However, there were no other safety or clinical issues cited. After meeting with the FDA, Aquestive revised the weight-based dosing regimen, and is preparing a new NDA for Libervant. The company does not believe that further clinical studies are necessary, and expects to complete the NDA submission in 2Q21. Once the application is sent, the company anticipates a six month process of review. Analyst Jason Butler, in his coverage of this stock for JMP Securities, points out that the key driver here is the resubmission of the Libervant NDA. [The] company recently gained clarity from the FDA on the acceptability of the companys revised proposed weight-based dosing regimen, in combination with new modeling and simulations, in a Type A meeting in October 2020 and the companys subsequent submission of the planned dosing regimen and modeling in December. In the past few weeks, the agency has asked for formatting changes for the safety section of the resubmission and for the company to show the predictive nature of the PK model vs. the observed data from the cross-over study. We view these activities as readily accomplishable..." Butler noted. Butler summed up, "We remain confident in the regulatory path for Libervant and anticipate approval this year, maintaining our 85% probability of approval." Looking forward to a successful resubmission, Butler rates Aquestives shares an Outperform (i.e. Buy), and his $17 price target implies an upside of 315% in the next 12 months. (To watch Butlers track record, click here) Turning now to the rest of the Street, other analysts are on the same page. With 100% Street support, or 5 Buy ratings to be exact, the message is clear: AQST is a Strong Buy. The $15 average price target brings the upside potential to ~266%. (See AQST stock analysis on TipRanks) To find good ideas for penny stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the featured analysts. The content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment.

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Coronavirus: 3 reasons why confirmed cases are on the rise again - Yahoo Finance

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.

View original post here:

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

Charlie Baker cant spin his way out of this one.

While the CDC chief has a feeling of impending doom, Baker is staying the course. But coronavirus cases are on the rise in Massachusetts and nationally, and health experts are issuing warnings urging officials to curb reopening plans to combat the virus.

I think we are seeing many of these states are opening up at levels we wouldnt necessarily recommend, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Monday in an unusually dire tone.

Walensky didnt single out Massachusetts but Gov. Charlie Baker recently loosened restrictions on gatherings and restaurants, despite evidence of a possible surge in COVID-19 cases. Baker continued his mask mandate.

But cases in Massachusetts have increased more than 40% this month, though hospitalizations have continued to decline, officials said.

And what is Bakers reaction?

Hold firm and spin.

Massachusetts continues to outperform the rest of the nation in vaccine distribution, especially among older residents and other vulnerable populations even as the Commonwealth has taken steps to reopen its economy, Baker spokesman Terry MacCormack said in a statement.

Its great that the states vaccination program has improved from its dismal beginning, but vaccines are not coming fast enough to hold off COVID.

As a former business executive, Baker is often consumed with numbers. Hes a numbers cruncher which can be good if youre leading a baseball team or a budget office.

But Baker is the chief executive of a state, and his tone matters. If he is reopening businesses and filling up restaurants, that sets a tone that everything is getting better.

When in fact the case numbers suggest its not.

This is not just a health issue anymore, its a political one. Bakers success in combating the virus will largely determine whether he gets another term if he wants one. His Democratic opponents sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the growing COVID numbers are not surprisingly criticizing his leadership. Bakers popularity is declining.

The GOP governor has a constituency to please, and right now most Republicans as well as many independents are on the side of reopening the state as quickly as possible. So hes stuck in a tough place.

Rather than retreat behind numbers and spin about vaccination, Baker needs to get up in front of his fellow Bay Staters and tell the truth. Sometimes telling the truth is not good politics.

But right now we need a good dose of the truth that the coronavirus is still here and menacing our most vulnerable populations.

If he doesnt want to reverse his stance of reopening business, he at least should come out and relay what health experts like Walensky are telling us. And he cant repeat enough his admonition to stay vigilant. Because this is no time to relax.

The rest is here:

Battenfeld: Charlie Baker combating coronavirus with spin - Boston Herald

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

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.

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

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.

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