Category Archives: Covid-19

The WHO Therapeutics and COVID-19: living guideline contains the Organizations most up-to-date recommendations for the use of therapeutics in the treatment of COVID-19. The latest version of this living guideline is available in pdf format (via the Download button) and via an online platform, and is updated regularly as new evidence emerges.

This tenth version of the WHO living guideline now contains 19 recommendations, including two new recommendations regarding fluvoxamine and colchicine. No further updates to the previous existing recommendations were made in this latest version.

Other COVID-19 therapeutics that are currently under consideration by WHO include fluvoxamine, colchicine and anticoagulants. This guideline will be updated if/when sufficient new evidence warrants this.

Guidelines regarding the clinical management of COVID-19 patients are included in a further document, COVID-19 Clinical management: Living guideline, that can be accessed via an online platform and in pdf format (or click PDF in top right corner of online platform).

To view previous (now outdated) versions of this guideline, please see the links below:

This document was updated on 14 July 2022

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Therapeutics and COVID-19: living guideline - World Health Organization

The pandemic pushed back years of progress in the fight against deadly superbugs as hospital-acquired infections and deaths rose considerably in 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said in a report this week.

Nearly 30,000 people died from superbugs a bacteria, virus, parasite or fungus resistant to antimicrobial drugs most associated with health care settings. Two out of every five people who died in 2020 acquired the infection in a hospital, a 15% increase from 2019.

COVID-19 created a perfect storm, the report said.

There were sicker patients who were hospitalized for longer periods compared to before the pandemic, which left patients especially vulnerable to infections associated with long hospital stays.

About 80% of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 received antibiotics.

While some of this prescribing can be appropriate when risks for related bacterial or fungal infections are unknown, this high level of prescribing can also put patients at risk for side effects and create a pathway for resistance to develop and spread, the report said.

The risk of contracting a bacterial or fungal infection typically increases the longer someone stays in a hospital.

The longer someone is on a ventilator or a catheter, for example, or is getting their blood drawn often means that there is more access to the closed off spaces in your body than normal, where bacteria and fungus can slip in, Dr. Lori D. Banks, an assistant professor of biology at Bates College in Lewiston, said.

Its a twofold thing where its got new access that it didnt have before and your immune system is not strong enough to fight it off, Banks said.

And it is common that patients with viral respiratory tract infections to develop a co-occurring bacterial infection, Central Maine Medical Center pharmacist Heather Bowman said. Bowman also co-leads the hospitals antimicrobial stewardship program with Dr. Imad Durra.

At the outset of COVID-19, the prevalence and incidence of bacterial co-infections was not known and given the high mortality seen in the beginning of the pandemic, there was a more liberal use of antibiotics seen nationally, Bowman said.

We now have better data to support that bacterial co-infection is less common than initially thought and have better treatments, such as the antiviral Paxlovid, to treat COVID-19, she said.

Overprescribing of any antimicrobial in this case, antibiotics can inadvertently weed out the superbugs from among the pack, Banks said.

Microbes like viruses and bacteria are constantly replicating themselves and unlike humans, whose cells completely regenerate on the order of every 25 to 30 years, these microbes are replicating in a matter of minutes or hours.

Every time one of them replicates, theres room for error. That error is a mutation, some of which are resistant to antimicrobial treatments. In the case of antibiotic resistance, for example, Banks said the bacteria make these sort of PacMan-looking enzymes that are able to literally like chew on the drug and make it ineffective, Banks said.

There may only be a couple microbes with these mutations out of a few million or billion, but what the antimicrobe will do is kill all the mutation-less microbes and single out the superbugs.

Youre selecting for or enriching the environment to allow for their survival, Banks said. And so thats what we see is that in these repeat exposures to antibiotics were actually creating the population thats dangerous.

But with nearly 80% of COVID-19 patients on an antibiotic, this process is repeated on a massive scale, Banks said.

Staffing and supply shortages nationwide may have also contributed to lapses in infection control and prevention in hospitals.

When anyone is asked to work harder and longer hours with less support, fatigue develops, shortcuts may be created and it can result in adverse events, such as ultimately the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, Joanne Kenny-Lynch, CMHs system director of infection prevention, said.

While all three hospitals in CMHs network CMMC, Bridgton Hospital and Rumford Hospital did not have any documented or notable increases in antimicrobial-resistant infections, Maine saw some increases statewide.

According to the Maine CDCs annual infectious disease report, there was a 14% increase in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, infections in 2020 compared to 2019. The U.S. CDC report identified MRSA as a serious public health threat.

While superbugs are a very real and present danger made worse by the pandemic, there are a few easy ways to combat these infections, Banks said.

First: Throw out that antibacterial hand soap. Or hand lotion. Or all-purpose cleaner. Antibacterial products and antibiotics attack all cells the same, whether it is the good kind or the bad kind.

And so if we are trying to kill off the bad guys but also killing off the good guys, thats not helpful or healthy, she said. Outside of clinical settings, Banks said to avoid antibacterial products.

Second, while people like Kenny-Lynch and Bowman at CMMC are working directly with prescribers to avoid prescribing antibiotics when they are unnecessary, Banks said it is always helpful to have a discussion with your provider before they prescribe antibiotics to decide if that is the best course of action.

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'COVID-19 created the perfect storm' for superbugs, CDC report says - Lewiston Sun Journal

In a new study, people with lupus who received an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster shot were significantly less likely to contract a subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection also known as a breakthrough infection. An immediate increase in antibody levels also occurred when administered a booster even in people on immunosuppressive therapies who did not respond to the initial round of vaccination.

Researchers monitored 163 fully COVID-19 vaccinated men and women with lupus to see who developed the disease. Of the group, only 125 had received a booster shot. Of the 125 people with lupus who received a booster shot, only 22% developed COVID-19, while 42% of those who had not received a booster shot developed the disease.

The unlikely development of severe COVID-19 disease in vaccinated people with lupus after receiving a booster shot is reassuring. Talk to your healthcare provider about receiving a COVID-19 vaccination and/or booster, and continue to follow the Lupus Foundation of America for breaking news about lupus and the novel coronavirus and learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine and lupus.

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Study Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Beneficial for People with Lupus - Lupus Foundation of America

If you do a simple Google search for COVID symptoms, you get a long list. And if you search for long-term COVID symptoms, you may find another long list. From loss of taste and smell to brain fog and lung issues, the lasting symptoms vary widely and unfortunately, there is no firm answer on when or if the symptoms will go away.

Lawrence resident Caroline Trowbridge noticed her first COVID symptom in January 2021. After cooking virtually with her niece, her meal didnt taste right. Then she realized she wasnt actually tasting the Brussels sprout pizza shed made. Shed been exposed five days before, but had had two negative tests.

I remember thinking: oh, this could be a symptom of COVID. My only symptoms were a light headache and loss of taste. Not smell. Only taste. It seems my case is an odd one because I only had a couple of light symptoms, but it has been over a year and a half now, and I still have no taste, she said. Unfortunately, at that time, vaccines were not available to me yet so I wasnt vaccinated. Now I am fully vaccinated and boosted and will continue to get boosters to protect myself from contracting it again.

Trowbridge, a retired journalist, said she sometimes thinks she may be tasting a food or drink, but when she holds her nose, she realizes thats not the case.

Caroline Trowbridge

I enjoy eating very aromatic foods because that sometimes makes it seem that I am tasting them. Ive gotten fairly creative, trying to adapt by adding spices to my meals, but I cannot taste sweets. And some foods, such as steak and mashed potatoes, taste faint and different, even though I can smell them, she said.

Though Trowbridge considers herself lucky to have contracted such a seemingly mild case of COVID, loss of taste is no small symptom. Chad Johanning, MD, a doctor with Lawrence Family Practice, said he has seen an array of post-COVID symptoms in his clinic.

Fortunately with vaccination, we have seen less of lost taste and smell and more non-specific fatigue, shortness of breath, cough and chest pain, he said. We dont know tons but what we do know is if patients who have more severe cases of COVID often have longer-lasting symptoms afterward. The frustrating part as a doctor is not being able to give my patients a specific timeframe when their symptoms will go away. I can give them a general range but some may not ever fully go away.

Dr. Johanning said a good course of action after having COVID is to visit your primary care provider for an evaluation and check-up. Sometimes there may be a useful treatment or your symptoms may be related to another underlying health condition. Regardless, it may give you more peace of mind than what Dr. Google has to say.

Researching your symptoms and learning from Dr. Google is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it can lead to more anxiety and not always the root cause of the issue, he said. It is important not to blame all your symptoms on COVID so we advise you to come and see your doctor, especially if symptoms havent begun to resolve 3-4 weeks post-COVID.

The sooner you call your doctor about your COVID diagnosis and symptoms the better. Some treatments have been proven effective at helping reduce the effects of COVID-19.

Paxlovid is a medicine that is a great treatment for mild to moderate COVID. It is an oral medication taken over five days and can aid in stopping the infection, Dr. Johanning said. Its use is similar to Tamiflu that we use for Influenza but much better and much more effective against COVID.

Krishna Rangarajan, MD, a pulmonologist with Lawrence Pulmonary Specialists, said he has seen many different post-COVID symptoms, but the most have been intense brain fog and lasting lung issues.

I have had a few patients who became hospitalized with severe COVID pneumonia and still require oxygen, he said. Most had no known lung disease before and were not on oxygen. For some, these issues are still present themselves even close to a year later. These are individuals in the prime of their lives that have developed these long-lasting COVID symptoms.

Dr. Rangarajan agreed with Dr. Johanning that it is important to check in with your healthcare team, as sometimes these symptoms may occur from something unrelated to COVID.

Most people I see have recovered significantly, however, there are some that still battle the effects of COVID daily, he said. There may not be anything at this moment that can relieve and take away the lasting symptoms, but we can do our best to advise and walk with you to manage your symptoms.

Dr. Rangarajan recommends some level of activity for his patients at whatever level you can. Moving your body in any way is important even if it is just standing, taking short walks or pool exercises. Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can also support managing symptoms and keeping you as healthy as possible.

As I mentioned, most have recovered, but those who havent got hit hard. Getting your vaccine and staying up-to-date on your boosters are incredibly important tools to help you avoid severe complications with COVID-19, he said. It is never too late to get your vaccine or to start making small changes to help you live a healthier life each day.

Have you heard about Paxlovid? Yale Medicine online describes it as an oral, antiviral pill that can be taken at home to help keep high-risk patients from getting so sick that they need to be hospitalized. If you test positive for COVID, this drug aids in lowering your risk of hospitalization or severe effects.

It is important to contact your primary care provider within the first 5 days of your symptoms with positive COVID test. This is when it is most effective, Dr. Johanning said. If youre high risk for COVID complications, you should contact your primary care doctor to determine if Paxlovid is right for you. It is a safe and effective treatment than can help reduce the long-term effects and save your life

To learn more, visit our website at http://www.lmh.org or call your primary care provider.

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The long term effects of COVID-19 - LMH Health

A new prospective study of 252 families with members diagnosed as having mild COVID-19 in Italy finds that, while all age-groups had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies up to 1 year after infection, childrenespecially those younger than 3 yearshad higher antibody levels than adults at all intervals tested.

In the study, published today in JAMA Network Open, a team led by University of Padua researchers enrolled 902 unvaccinated patients at a COVID follow-up clinic from Apr 1, 2020, to Aug 31, 2021. Families were included in the study if they had children younger than 15 years and at least one member who had tested positive for COVID-19 at least 4 weeks earlier.

The families underwent serologic testing for SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain immunoglobulin G (S-RBD IgG) antibodies one to three times at 1 to 4, 5 to 10, and/or over 10 months after infection.

Of the 902 patients, 697 had either tested positive for COVID-19 (575; 63.7%) or had detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies despite no other evidence of infection (122; 17.5%), including 351 children and older siblings (average age, 8.6 years) and 346 parents (42.5 years). Among the 697 infected patients, 674 (96.7%) were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms.

At all time-points, children had significantly higher antibody concentrations than adults, with a median S-RBD IgG level fivefold higher in those younger than 3 years than in older participants. Of the 659 participants who had their antibody levels checked at least once, 657 (99.7%) still had detectable antibodies during follow-up after 64 days, while 2 of 659 (0.3%) of infected participants had negative antibody results after 556 days.

No patients reported a subsequent infection or exposure to other infected people over follow-up, but 17 participants had unexpected increases in their S-RBD IgG concentrations. Because these patients may have been unknowingly exposed, their final serum samples were excluded from analysis.

The researchers performed a longitudinal analysis using participant-paired plasma from a subgroup of 56 patients with COVID-19 who were tested at least twice for S-RBD IgG levels, with the first sample obtained at 1 to 4 months after infection. They conducted a first analysis on 31 patients sampled at, on average, 89.2 and 199.2 days, and a second analysis on 40 patients with samples collected at an average of 81.9 and 380 days (medium and long intervals, respectively). They sampled 22 patients three times, contributing to both subgroups.

Both analyses were stratified by age-group: younger than 6 years, 6 to 18, and older than 18. While all age-groups had detectable antibodies at both time-points, their antibody levels declined progressively, ranging from 2.0- and 2.3-fold decreases at the medium interval to 2.5- to 3.6-fold drops at the long interval.

In an analysis of 194 samples from a subgroup of 84 infected participants tested for antibodies at least twice, regardless of when the first serum was obtained, antibodies were still detectable at 18 months post-infection. Antibody concentrations waned faster in the first 200 days after infection than in subsequent days. Relative to adults and children 6 and older, younger children demonstrated faster early antibody waning.

The authors said the results address a gap in the understanding of antibody persistence after COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic or mildly ill children, who have a role in silently transmitting the virus.

"This study may provide an important basis to determine the schedule of COVID-19 vaccination in non-previously infected children and of booster immunization in pediatric patients who have already experienced COVID-19," they wrote.

The researchers said that the differences in immune response among age-groups are likely due to factors such as specific cellular responses and genetics.

They called for research into the durability of antibodies against the Omicron variant and future variants and the longevity of B and T immune-cell responses. "In fact," they wrote, "although we focused on the antibody responses to infection in this analysis, cellular immune responses are also likely to play an important role in protection against SARS-CoV-2 subsequent infection, as we and others have previously reported."

See the article here:

Study: Kids have stronger COVID-19 antibody response than adults - CIDRAP

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) The Black Springfield COVID-19 coalition hosted a Backyard party for the neighborhood.

Over at the Cozy Court Pavilion the community along with representative Bud Williams gathered to spread awareness on COVID-19.Thursday evenings event included raffles prizes and a barbeque to bring people in to have these conversation about public health and the risks of the recent highly contagious omicron variants.

Representative Williams stressing the importance of vaccinations, testing and discussing how Black and brown communities are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

We still want to have fun with the community but at the same time keep talking to them and educating them in terms of staying safe wearing your masks social distance and being careful because this is not over, Representative Williams told 22News.

Williams stressed the importance of having Black and brown communities learn about these health risksfrom voices that represent them in the community.

Read the original here:

Backyard BBQ hosted by The Black Springfield COVID-19 Coalition - WWLP.com

The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is a global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified from an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Attempts to contain it there failed, allowing the virus to spread worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020 and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. As of 30 June 2022, the pandemic had caused more than 547million cases and 6.33million confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest in history.

COVID-19 symptoms range from undetectable to deadly, but most commonly include fever, dry cough, and fatigue. Severe illness is more likely in elderly patients and those with certain underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 transmits when people breathe in air contaminated by droplets and small airborne particles containing the virus. The risk of breathing these in is highest when people are in close proximity, but they can be inhaled over longer distances, particularly indoors. Transmission can also occur if contaminated fluids reach the eyes, nose or mouth, and, rarely, via contaminated surfaces. Infected persons are typically contagious for 10 days, and can spread the virus even if they do not develop symptoms. Mutations have produced many strains (variants) with varying degrees of infectivity and virulence.[5][6]

COVID-19 vaccines have been approved and widely distributed in various countries since December 2020. Other recommended preventive measures include social distancing, wearing masks, improving ventilation and air filtration, and quarantining those who have been exposed or are symptomatic. Treatments include monoclonal antibodies,[7] novel antiviral drugs, and symptom control. Governmental interventions include travel restrictions, lockdowns, business restrictions and closures, workplace hazard controls, quarantines, testing systems, and tracing contacts of the infected.

The pandemic triggered severe social and economic disruption around the world, including the largest global recession since the Great Depression.[8] Widespread supply shortages, including food shortages, were caused by supply chain disruption. The resultant near-global lockdowns saw an unprecedented pollution decrease. Educational institutions and public areas were partially or fully closed in many jurisdictions, and many events were cancelled or postponed. Misinformation circulated through social media and mass media, and political tensions intensified. The pandemic raised issues of racial and geographic discrimination, health equity, and the balance between public health imperatives and individual rights.

The pandemic is known by several names. It is often referred to in news media as the "coronavirus pandemic"[9] despite the existence of other human coronaviruses that have caused epidemics and outbreaks (e.g. SARS).[10]

During the initial outbreak in Wuhan, the virus and disease were commonly referred to as "coronavirus", "Wuhan coronavirus",[11] "the coronavirus outbreak" and the "Wuhan coronavirus outbreak",[12] with the disease sometimes called "Wuhan pneumonia".[13][14] In January 2020, the WHO recommended 2019-nCoV[15] and 2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease[16] as interim names for the virus and disease per 2015 international guidelines against using geographical locations (e.g. Wuhan, China), animal species, or groups of people in disease and virus names in part to prevent social stigma.[17] WHO finalized the official names COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 on 11 February 2020.[18] Tedros Adhanom explained: COfor corona, VIfor virus, Dfor disease and 19 for when the outbreak was first identified (31 December 2019).[19] WHO additionally uses "the COVID-19 virus" and "the virus responsible for COVID-19" in public communications.[18]

WHO names variants of concern and variants of interest using Greek letters. The initial practice of naming them according to where the variants were identified (e.g. Delta began as the "Indian variant") is no longer common.[20] A more systematic naming scheme reflects the variant's PANGO lineage (e.g., Omicron's lineage is B.1.1.529) and is used for other variants.[21][22][23]

SARS-CoV-2 is a newly discovered virus that is closely related to bat coronaviruses,[24] pangolin coronaviruses,[25][26] and SARS-CoV.[27] The first known outbreak started in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in November 2019. Many early cases were linked to people who had visited the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market there,[28][29][30] but it is possible that human-to-human transmission began earlier.[31][32]

The scientific consensus is that the virus is most likely of zoonotic origin, from bats or another closely-related mammal.[31][33][34] Despite this, the subject has generated extensive speculation about alternative origins.[35][32][36] The origin controversy heightened geopolitical divisions, notably between the United States and China.[37]

The earliest known infected person fell ill on 1December 2019. That individual did not have a connection with the later wet market cluster.[38][39] However, an earlier case may have occurred on 17 November.[40] Two-thirds of the initial case cluster were linked with the market.[41][42][43] Molecular clock analysis suggests that the index case is likely to have been infected between mid-October and mid-November 2019.[44][45]

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Official "case" counts refer to the number of people who have been tested for COVID-19 and whose test has been confirmed positive according to official protocols whether or not they experienced symptomatic disease.[46][47] Due to the effect of sampling bias, studies which obtain a more accurate number by extrapolating from a random sample have consistently found that total infections considerably exceed the reported case counts.[48][49] Many countries, early on, had official policies to not test those with only mild symptoms.[50][51] The strongest risk factors for severe illness are obesity, complications of diabetes, anxiety disorders, and the total number of conditions.[52]

In early 2020, a meta-analysis of self-reported cases in China by age indicated that a relatively low proportion of cases occurred in individuals under 20.[53] It was not clear whether this was because young people were less likely to be infected, or less likely to develop symptoms and be tested.[54] A retrospective cohort study in China found that children and adults were just as likely to be infected.[55]

Among more thorough studies, preliminary results from 9 April 2020 found that in Gangelt, the centre of a major infection cluster in Germany, 15 per cent of a population sample tested positive for antibodies.[56] Screening for COVID-19 in pregnant women in New York City, and blood donors in the Netherlands, found rates of positive antibody tests that indicated more infections than reported.[57][58] Seroprevalence-based estimates are conservative as some studies show that persons with mild symptoms do not have detectable antibodies.[59]

Initial estimates of the basic reproduction number (R0) for COVID-19 in January were between 1.4 and 2.5,[60] but a subsequent analysis claimed that it may be about 5.7 (with a 95 per cent confidence interval of 3.8 to 8.9).[61]

In December 2021, the number of cases continued to climb due to several factors, including new COVID-19 variants. As of that 28December, 282,790,822 individuals worldwide had been confirmed as infected.[62] As of 14April2022[update], over 500million cases were confirmed globally.[63] Most cases are unconfirmed, with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimating the true number of cases as of early 2022 to be in the billions.[64][65]

Semi-log plot of weekly new cases of COVID-19 in the world and the current top six countries (mean with deaths)

Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people from selected countries[66]

Active COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people from selected countries[66]

As of 30 June 2022, more than 6.33million[3] deaths had been attributed to COVID-19. The first confirmed death was in Wuhan on 9 January 2020.[67] These numbers vary by region and over time, influenced by testing volume, healthcare system quality, treatment options, government response,[68] time since the initial outbreak, and population characteristics, such as age, sex, and overall health.[69]

Multiple measures are used to quantify mortality.[70] Official death counts typically include people who died after testing positive. Such counts exclude deaths without a test.[71] Conversely, deaths of people who died from underlying conditions following a positive test may be included.[72] Countries such as Belgium include deaths from suspected cases, including those without a test, thereby increasing counts.[73]

Official death counts have been claimed to underreport the actual death toll, because excess mortality (the number of deaths in a period compared to a long-term average) data show an increase in deaths that is not explained by COVID-19 deaths alone.[74] Using such data, estimates of the true number of deaths from COVID-19 worldwide have included a range from 9.5 to 18.6million by The Economist,[74] as well as over 10.3million by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation[75] and ~18.2million (earlier) deaths between 1 January 2020, and 31 December 2021 by a comprehensive international study.[76] Such deaths include deaths due to healthcare capacity constraints and priorities, as well as reluctance to seek care (to avoid possible infection).[77] Further research may help distinguish the proportions directly caused by COVID-19 from those caused by indirect consequences of the pandemic.[76] In May 2022, the WHO estimated the number of excess deaths to be 14.9million compared to 5.4million reported COVID-19 deaths, with the majority of the unreported 9.5million deaths believed to be direct deaths due the virus, rather than indirect deaths. Some deaths were because people with other conditions could not access medical services.[78]

The time between symptom onset and death ranges from6 to 41 days, typically about 14 days.[79] Mortality rates increase as a function of age. People at the greatest mortality risk are the elderly and those with underlying conditions.[80][81]

Semi-log plot of weekly deaths due to COVID-19 in the world and top six current countries (mean with cases)

COVID-19 deaths per 100 000 population from selected countries[66]

In May 2022 the World Health Organization estimated that COVID has caused just under 15 million excess deaths worldwide. The virus directly caused most of these deaths but some were because people with other conditions could not access medical services.[82]

The infection fatality ratio (IFR) is the cumulative number of deaths attributed to the disease divided by the cumulative number of infected individuals (including asymptomatic and undiagnosed infections and excluding vaccinated infected individuals).[84][85][86] It is expressed in percentage points (not as a decimal).[87] Other studies refer to this metric as the 'infection fatality risk'.[88][89]

In November 2020, a review article in Nature reported estimates of population-weighted IFRs for various countries, excluding deaths in elderly care facilities, and found a median range of 0.24% to 1.49%.[90]

IFRs rise as a function of age (from 0.002% at age 10 and 0.01% at age 25, to 0.4% at age 55, 1.4% at age 65, 4.6% at age 75, and 15% at age 85). These rates vary by a factor of ~10,000 across the age groups.[83] For comparison, the IFR for middle-aged adults is two orders of magnitude more likely than the annualised risk of a fatal automobile accident and far more dangerous than seasonal influenza.[83]

In December 2020, a systematic review and meta-analysis estimated that population-weighted IFR was 0.5% to 1% in some countries (France, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Portugal), 1% to 2% in other countries (Australia, England, Lithuania, and Spain), and about 2.5% in Italy. This study reported that most of the differences reflected corresponding differences in the population's age structure and the age-specific pattern of infections.[83]

Another metric in assessing death rate is the case fatality ratio (CFR),[a] which is the ratio of deaths to diagnoses. This metric can be misleading because of the delay between symptom onset and death and because testing focuses on symptomatic individuals.[91]

Based on Johns Hopkins University statistics, the global CFR is 1.16percent (6,335,512 deaths for 547,218,845 cases) as of 30 June 2022.[3] The number varies by region and has generally declined over time.[92]

Symptoms of COVID-19 are variable, ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness.[93][94] Common symptoms include headache, loss of smell and taste, nasal congestion and runny nose, cough, muscle pain, sore throat, fever, diarrhoea, and breathing difficulties.[95] People with the same infection may have different symptoms, and their symptoms may change over time. Three common clusters of symptoms have been identified: one respiratory symptom cluster with cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and fever; a musculoskeletal symptom cluster with muscle and joint pain, headache, and fatigue; a cluster of digestive symptoms with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.[66] In people without prior ear, nose, and throat disorders, loss of taste combined with loss of smell is associated with COVID-19 and is reported in as many as 88% of cases.[96][97][98]

The disease is mainly transmitted via the respiratory route when people inhale droplets and small airborne particles (that form an aerosol) that infected people exhale as they breathe, talk, cough, sneeze, or sing.[99][100][101][102] Infected people are more likely to transmit COVID-19 when they are physically close. However, infection can occur over longer distances, particularly indoors.[99][103]

SARSCoV2 belongs to the broad family of viruses known as coronaviruses.[104] It is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus, with a single linear RNA segment. Coronaviruses infect humans, other mammals, including livestock and companion animals, and avian species.[105] Human coronaviruses are capable of causing illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS, fatality rate ~34%). SARS-CoV-2 is the seventh known coronavirus to infect people, after 229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1, MERS-CoV, and the original SARS-CoV.[106]

The standard methods of testing for presence of SARS-CoV-2 are nucleic acid tests,[107] which detects the presence of viral RNA fragments.[108] As these tests detect RNA but not infectious virus, its "ability to determine duration of infectivity of patients is limited."[109] The test is typically done on respiratory samples obtained by a nasopharyngeal swab; however, a nasal swab or sputum sample may also be used.[110][111] The WHO has published several testing protocols for the disease.[112]

Preventive measures to reduce the chances of infection include getting vaccinated, staying at home, wearing a mask in public,[113] avoiding crowded places, keeping distance from others, ventilating indoor spaces, managing potential exposure durations,[114] washing hands with soap and water often and for at least twenty seconds, practising good respiratory hygiene, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.[115][116]

Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who believe they may be infected are advised by the CDC to stay home except to get medical care, call ahead before visiting a healthcare provider, wear a face mask before entering the healthcare provider's office and when in any room or vehicle with another person, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, regularly wash hands with soap and water and avoid sharing personal household items.[117][118]

A COVID-19 vaccine is intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, an established body of knowledge existed about the structure and function of coronaviruses causing diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This knowledge accelerated the development of various vaccine platforms during early 2020.[119] The initial focus of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was on preventing symptomatic, often severe illness.[120] On 10 January 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 genetic sequence data was shared through GISAID, and by 19 March, the global pharmaceutical industry announced a major commitment to address COVID-19.[121] The COVID-19 vaccines are widely credited for their role in reducing the severity and death caused by COVID-19.[122][123]

As of late-December 2021, more than 4.49billion people had received one or more doses[124] (8+ billion in total) in over 197 countries. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was the most widely used.[125]

For the first two years of the pandemic, no specific and effective treatment or cure was available.[126][127] In 2021, the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) approved the oral antiviral protease inhibitor, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus AIDS drug ritonavir), to treat adult patients.[128] FDA later gave it an EUA.[129]

Most cases of COVID-19 are mild. In these, supportive care includes medication such as paracetamol or NSAIDs to relieve symptoms (fever,[130] body aches, cough), adequate intake of oral fluids and rest.[127][131] Good personal hygiene and a healthy diet are also recommended.[132]

Supportive care includes treatment to relieve symptoms, fluid therapy, oxygen support and prone positioning, and medications or devices to support other affected vital organs.[133] More severe cases may need treatment in hospital. In those with low oxygen levels, use of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone is recommended, to reduce mortality.[134] Noninvasive ventilation and, ultimately, admission to an intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation may be required to support breathing.[135] Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used to address the issue of respiratory failure.[136][137]

Existing drugs such as hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, ivermectin and so-called early treatment are not recommended by US or European health authorities.[126][138][139] Two monoclonal antibody-based therapies are available for early use in high-risk cases.[139] The antiviral remdesivir is available in the US, Canada, Australia, and several other countries, with varying restrictions; however, it is not recommended for use with mechanical ventilation, and is discouraged altogether by the World Health Organization (WHO),[140] due to limited evidence of its efficacy.[126]

Several variants have been named by WHO and labelled as a variant of concern (VoC) or a variant of interest (VoI). They share the more infectious D614G mutation:[141][142][143] Delta dominated and then eliminated earlier VoC from most jurisdictions. Omicron's immune escape ability may allow it to spread via breakthrough infections, which in turn may allow it to coexist with Delta, which more often infects the unvaccinated.[144]

The severity of COVID-19 varies. The disease may take a mild course with few or no symptoms, resembling other common upper respiratory diseases such as the common cold. In 34% of cases (7.4% for those over age 65) symptoms are severe enough to cause hospitalization.[146] Mild cases typically recover within two weeks, while those with severe or critical diseases may take three to six weeks to recover. Among those who have died, the time from symptom onset to death has ranged from two to eight weeks. Prolonged prothrombin time and elevated C-reactive protein levels on admission to the hospital are associated with severe course of COVID-19 and with a transfer to intensive care units (ICU).[147][148]

Many countries attempted to slow or stop the spread of COVID-19 by recommending, mandating or prohibiting behaviour changes, while others relied primarily on providing information. Measures ranged from public advisories to stringent lockdowns. Outbreak control strategies are divided into elimination and mitigation. Experts differentiate between elimination strategies (commonly known as "zero-COVID") that aim to completely stop the spread of the virus within the community,[152] and mitigation strategies (commonly known as "flattening the curve") that attempt to lessen the effects of the virus on society, but which still tolerate some level of transmission within the community.[153] These initial strategies can be pursued sequentially or simultaneously during the acquired immunity phase through natural and vaccine-induced immunity.[154]

Nature reported in 2021 that 90 per cent of immunologists who responded to a survey "think that the coronavirus will become endemic".[155]

Containment is undertaken to stop an outbreak from spreading into the general population. Infected individuals are isolated while they are infectious. The people they have interacted with are contacted and isolated for long enough to ensure that they are either not infected or no longer contagious. Screening is the starting point for containment. Screening is done by checking for symptoms to identify infected individuals, who can then be isolated or offered treatment.[156] The Zero-COVID strategy involves using public health measures such as contact tracing, mass testing, border quarantine, lockdowns and mitigation software to stop community transmission of COVID-19 as soon as it is detected, with the goal of getting the area back to zero detected infections and resuming normal economic and social activities.[152][157] Successful containment or suppression reduces Rt to less than 1.[158]

Should containment fail, efforts focus on mitigation: measures taken to slow the spread and limit its effects on the healthcare system and society.Successful mitigation delays and decreases the epidemic peak, known as "flattening the epidemic curve".[149] This decreases the risk of overwhelming health services and provides more time for developing vaccines and treatments.[149]

Individual behaviour changed in many jurisdictions. Many people worked from home instead of at their traditional workplaces.[159]

Non-pharmaceutical interventions that may reduce spread include personal actions such as hand hygiene, wearing face masks, and self-quarantine; community measures aimed at reducing interpersonal contacts such as closing workplaces and schools and cancelling large gatherings; community engagement to encourage acceptance and participation in such interventions; as well as environmental measures such as surface cleaning. Many such measures were criticised as hygiene theatre.[161]

More drastic actions, such as quarantining entire populations and strict travel bans have been attempted in various jurisdictions.[162] China and Australia's lockdowns have been the most strict. New Zealand implemented the most severe travel restrictions. South Korea introduced mass screening and localised quarantines, and issued alerts on the movements of infected individuals. Singapore provided financial support, quarantined, and imposed large fines for those who broke quarantine.[163]

Contact tracing attempts to identify recent contacts of newly infected individuals, and to screen them for infection;[164] the traditional approach is to request a list of contacts from infectees, and then telephone or visit the contacts.

Another approach is to collect location data from mobile devices to identify those who have come in significant contact with infectees, which prompted privacy concerns.[165] On 10 April 2020, Google and Apple announced an initiative for privacy-preserving contact tracing.[166][167] In Europe and in the US, Palantir Technologies initially provided COVID-19 tracking services.[168]

WHO described increasing capacity and adapting healthcare as a fundamental mitigation.[169] The ECDC and WHO's European regional office issued guidelines for hospitals and primary healthcare services for shifting resources at multiple levels, including focusing laboratory services towards testing, cancelling elective procedures, separating and isolating patients, and increasing intensive care capabilities by training personnel and increasing ventilators and beds.[169][170] The pandemic drove widespread adoption of telehealth.[171]

Due to capacity supply chains limitations, some manufacturers began 3D printing material such as nasal swabs and ventilator parts.[172][173] In one example, an Italian startup received legal threats due to alleged patent infringement after reverse-engineering and printing one hundred requested ventilator valves overnight.[174] On 23 April 2020, NASA reported building, in 37 days, a ventilator which is undergoing further testing.[175][176] Individuals and groups of makers created and shared open source designs, and manufacturing devices using locally sourced materials, sewing, and 3D printing. Millions of face shields, protective gowns, and masks were made. Other ad hoc medical supplies included shoe covers, surgical caps, powered air-purifying respirators, and hand sanitizer. Novel devices were created such as ear savers, non-invasive ventilation helmets, and ventilator splitters.[177]

In July 2021, several experts expressed concern that achieving herd immunity may not be possible because Delta can transmit among vaccinated individuals.[178] CDC published data showing that vaccinated people could transmit Delta, something officials believed was less likely with other variants. Consequently, WHO and CDC encouraged vaccinated people to continue with non-pharmaceutical interventions such as masking, social distancing, and quarantining if exposed.[179]

In February 2022, the Icelandic Ministry of Health lifted all restrictions and adopted a herd immunity approach,[180] and in June 2022 the Icelandic Ministry of Health's chief epidemiologist rlfur Gunason said that "we have acquired a good herd immunity, because otherwise the situation would be much worse."[181]

The outbreak was discovered in Wuhan in November 2019. It is possible that human-to-human transmission was happening before the discovery.[31][32] Based on a retrospective analysis starting from December 2019, the number of cases in Hubei gradually increased, reaching 60 by 20 December and at least 266 by 31 December.[183]

A pneumonia cluster was observed on 26 December and treated by Doctor Zhang Jixian. She informed the Wuhan Jianghan CDC on 27 December.[184] Vision Medicals reported the discovery of a novel coronavirus to the China CDC (CCDC) on 28 December.[185][186]

On 30 December, a test report from CapitalBio Medlab addressed to Wuhan Central Hospital reported an erroneous positive result for SARS, causing doctors there to alert authorities. Eight of those doctors, including Li Wenliang (who was also punished on 3January),[187] were later admonished by the police for spreading false rumours; and Ai Fen was reprimanded.[188] That evening, Wuhan Municipal Health Commission (WMHC) issued a notice about "the treatment of pneumonia of unknown cause".[189] The next day, WMHC made the announcement public, confirming 27 cases[190][191][192]enough to trigger an investigation.[193]

On 31 December, the WHO office in China was informed of cases of the pneumonia cases[194][190] and immediately launched an investigation.[193]

Official Chinese sources claimed that the early cases were mostly linked to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, which also sold live animals.[195] However, in May 2020, CCDC director George Gao indicated the market was not the origin (animal samples had tested negative).[196]

On 11 January, WHO was notified by the Chinese National Health Commission that the outbreak was associated with exposures in the market, and that China had identified a new type of coronavirus, which it isolated on 7 January.[194]

Initially, the number of cases doubled approximately every seven and a half days.[197] In early and mid-January, the virus spread to other Chinese provinces, helped by the Chinese New Year migration. Wuhan was a transport hub and major rail interchange.[198] On 10 January, the virus's genome was shared through GISAID.[199] A retrospective study published in March found that 6,174 people had reported symptoms by 20 January.[200] A 24 January report indicated human transmission, recommended personal protective equipment for health workers, and advocated testing, given the outbreak's "pandemic potential".[41][201] On 31 January the first published modelling study warned of inevitable "independent self-sustaining outbreaks in major cities globally" and called for "large-scale public health interventions."[202]

On 30 January, 7,818 infections had been confirmed, leading WHO to declare the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).[203][204] On 11 March, WHO elevated it to a pandemic.[205][206]

By 31 January, Italy had its first confirmed infections, in two tourists from China.[207] On 19 March, Italy overtook China as the country with the most reported deaths.[208] By 26 March, the United States had overtaken China and Italy as the country with the highest number of confirmed infections.[209] Genomic analysis indicated that the majority of New York's confirmed infections came from Europe, rather than directly from Asia.[210] Testing of prior samples revealed a person who was infected in France on 27 December 2019[211][212] and a person in the United States who died from the disease on 6February.[213]

In April Russia sent a cargo plane with medical aid to the United States.[214]

In October, WHO reported that one in ten people around the world may have been infected, or 780million people, while only 35million infections had been confirmed.[215]

On 9 November, Pfizer released trial results for a candidate vaccine, showing a 90 per cent effectiveness against infection.[216] That day, Novavax entered an FDA Fast Track application for their vaccine.[217]

On 14 December, Public Health England reported that a variant had been discovered in the UK's southeast, predominantly in Kent. The variant, later named Alpha, showed changes to the spike protein that could be more infectious. As of 13 December, 1,108 infections had been confirmed.[218]

On 4 February 2020, US Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar waived liability for vaccine manufacturers.[219]

On 2 January, the Alpha variant, first discovered in the UK, had been identified in 33 countries.[220] On 6 January, the Gamma variant was first identified in Japanese travellers returning from Brazil.[221] On 29 January, it was reported that the Novavax vaccine was 49 per cent effective against the Beta variant in a clinical trial in South Africa.[222][223] The CoronaVac vaccine was reported to be 50.4 per cent effective in a Brazil clinical trial.[224]

On 12 March, several countries stopped using the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine due to blood clotting problems, specifically cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST).[225] On 20 March, the WHO and European Medicines Agency found no link to thrombus, leading several countries to resume the vaccine.[226] In March WHO reported that an animal host was the most likely origin, without ruling out other possibilities.[2][30] The Delta variant was first identified in India. In mid-April, the variant was first detected in the UK and two months later it had metastasized into a third wave there, forcing the government to delay reopening that was originally scheduled for June.[227]

On 10 November, Germany advised against the Moderna vaccine for people under 30.[228] On 24 November, the Omicron variant was detected in South Africa; a few days later the World Health Organization declared it a VoC (variant of concern).[229] The new variant is more infectious than the Delta variant.[230]

On 1 January, Europe passed 100 million cases amidst a surge in the Omicron variant.[231]

On 14 January, the World Health Organization recommended two new treatments, Baricitinib, and Sotrovimab (although conditionally).[232]

On 24 January, it was reported that about 57% of the world had been infected by COVID-19, per the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Model.[64][65]

On 6 March, it was reported that the total worldwide death count had surpassed 6million people since the start of the pandemic.[233]

National reactions ranged from strict lockdowns to public education campaigns.[234] WHO recommended that curfews and lockdowns should be short-term measures to reorganise, regroup, rebalance resources, and protect the health care system.[235]As of 26 March 2020, 1.7billion people worldwide were under some form of lockdown.[236] This increased to 3.9billion people by the first week of Aprilmore than half the world's population.[237][238]

As of the end of 2021, Asia's peak had come at the same time and at the same level as the world as a whole, in May 2021.[239] However, cumulatively they had experienced only half the world average.[240]

China opted for containment, inflicting strict lockdowns to eliminate spread.[241][242]The vaccines distributed in China included the BIBP, WIBP, and CoronaVac.[243] It was reported on 11 December 2021 that China had vaccinated 1.162billion of its citizens, or 82.5% of the total population of the country against COVID-19.[244] During the initial outbreak, multiple sources cast doubt upon the accuracy of China's death tolls, with some suggesting intentional data suppression.[245][246][247] China's large scale adoption of Zero-COVID had largely contained the first wave of infections of the disease, with external experts agreeing with the accuracy of China's infection numbers and deaths since the initial outbreak.[248][249][250] China is almost alone in pursuing a Zero-Covid policy to combat the continuing wave of infections due to the Omicron variant in 2022.[251]

The first case in India was reported on 30 January 2020. India ordered a nationwide lockdown starting 24 March 2020,[252] with a phased unlock beginning 1 June 2020. Six cities accounted for around half of reported casesMumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata.[253] Post-lockdown, the Government of India introduced a contact tracking app called Arogya Setu to help authorities manage contact tracing. Later this app was also used for a vaccination management program.[254] India's vaccination program was considered to be the world's largest and the most successful with over 90% of citizens getting the first dose and another 65% getting the second dose.[255][256] A second wave hit India in April 2021, straining healthcare services.[257] On 21 October 2021, it was reported that the country had surpassed 1billion vaccinations.[258]

Iran reported its first confirmed cases on 19 February 2020 in Qom.[260][261] Early measures included the cancellation of concerts and other cultural events,[262] Friday prayers,[263] and education shutdowns.[264] Iran became a centre of the pandemic in February 2020.[265][266] More than ten countries had traced their outbreaks to Iran by 28 February, indicating a more severe outbreak than the 388 reported cases.[266][267] The Iranian Parliament closed, after 23 of its 290 members tested positive on 3March 2020.[268] At least twelve sitting or former Iranian politicians and government officials had died by 17 March 2020.[269] By August 2021, the pandemic's fifth wave peaked, with more than 400 deaths in 1 day.[270]

COVID-19 was confirmed in South Korea on 20 January 2020. Military bases were quarantined after tests showed three infected soldiers.[271] South Korea introduced what was then considered the world's largest and best-organised screening programme, isolating infected people, and tracing and quarantining contacts.[272] Screening methods included mandatory self-reporting by new international arrivals through mobile application,[273] combined with drive-through testing,[274] and increasing testing capability to 20,000 people/day.[275] Despite some early criticisms,[276] South Korea's programme was considered a success in controlling the outbreak without quarantining entire cities.[272][277][278]

The global COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Europe with its first confirmed case in Bordeaux, France, on 24 January 2020, and subsequently spread widely across the continent. By 17 March 2020, every country in Europe had confirmed a case,[279] and all have reported at least one death, with the exception of Vatican City. Italy was the first European nation to experience a major outbreak in early 2020, becoming the first country worldwide to introduce a national lockdown.[280] By 13 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Europe the epicentre of the pandemic[281][282] and it remained so until the WHO announced it has been overtaken by South America on 22 May.[283] By 18 March 2020, more than 250million people were in lockdown in Europe.[284] Despite deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, Europe became the pandemic's epicentre once again in late 2021.[285][286]

The Italian outbreak began on 31 January 2020, when two Chinese tourists tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Rome.[207] Cases began to rise sharply, which prompted the government to suspend flights to and from China and declare a state of emergency.[287] On 22 February 2020, the Council of Ministers announced a new decree-law to contain the outbreak, including quarantining more than 50,000 people in northern Italy.[288] On 4 March the Italian government ordered schools and universities closed as Italy reached a hundred deaths. Sport was suspended completely for at least one month.[289] On 11 March Conte stopped nearly all commercial activity except supermarkets and pharmacies.[290][291] On 19 March Italy overtook China as the country with the most COVID-19-related deaths.[292][293] On 19 April the first wave ebbed, as 7-day deaths declined to 433.[294] On 13 October, the Italian government again issued restrictive rules to contain the second wave.[295] On 10 November Italy surpassed 1million confirmed infections.[296] On 23 November, it was reported that the second wave of the virus had led some hospitals to stop accepting patients.[297]

The virus was first confirmed to have spread to Spain on 31 January 2020, when a German tourist tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in La Gomera, Canary Islands.[298] Post-hoc genetic analysis has shown that at least 15 strains of the virus had been imported, and community transmission began by mid-February.[299] On 29 March, it was announced that, beginning the following day, all non-essential workers were ordered to remain at home for the next 14 days.[300] The number of cases increased again in July in a number of cities including Barcelona, Zaragoza and Madrid, which led to reimposition of some restrictions but no national lockdown.[301][302][303][304] By September 2021, Spain was one of the countries with the highest per centage of its population vaccinated (76% fully vaccinated and 79% with the first dose),[305] while also being one of the countries more in favour of vaccines against COVID-19 (nearly 94% of its population were already vaccinated or wanted to be).[306] However, as of 21 January 2022, this figure had only increased to 80.6%. Nevertheless, Spain leads Europe for per-capita full-vaccination rates. Italy is ranked 2nd at 75%.[305]

Sweden differed from most other European countries in that it mostly remained open.[307] Per the Swedish Constitution, the Public Health Agency of Sweden has autonomy that prevents political interference and the agency favoured remaining open. The Swedish strategy focused on longer-term measures, based on the assumption that after lockdown the virus would resume spreading, with the same result.[308][309] By the end of June, Sweden no longer had excess mortality.[310]

Devolution in the United Kingdom meant that each of its four countries developed its own response. England's restrictions were shorter-lived than the others.[311] The UK government started enforcing social distancing and quarantine measures on 18 March 2020.[312][313] On 16 March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson advised against non-essential travel and social contact, praising work from home and avoiding venues such as pubs, restaurants, and theatres.[314][315] On 20 March, the government ordered all leisure establishments to close,[316] and promised to prevent unemployment.[317] On 23 March, Johnson banned gatherings and restricted non-essential travel and outdoor activity. Unlike previous measures, these restrictions were enforceable by police through fines and dispersal of gatherings. Most non-essential businesses were ordered to close.[318] On 24 April 2020, it was reported that a promising vaccine trial had begun in England; the government pledged more than 50million towards research.[319] On 16 April 2020, it was reported that the UK would have first access to the Oxford vaccine, due to a prior contract; should the trial be successful, some 30million doses would be available.[320] On 2 December 2020, the UK became the first developed country to approve the Pfizer vaccine; 800,000 doses were immediately available for use.[321]

The virus arrived in the United States on 13 January 2020.[322] Cases were reported in all North American countries after Saint Kitts and Nevis confirmed a case on 25 March, and in all North American territories after Bonaire confirmed a case on 16 April.[323]

87,410,874[324] confirmed cases have been reported in the United States with 1,017,467[324] deaths, the most of any country, and the nineteenth-highest per capita worldwide.[325] COVID-19 is the deadliest pandemic in U.S. history;[326] it was the third-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, behind heart disease and cancer.[327] From 2019 to 2020, U.S. life expectancy dropped by 3years for Hispanic Americans, 2.9years for African Americans, and 1.2years for white Americans.[328] These effects have persisted as U.S. deaths due to COVID-19 in 2021 exceeded those in 2020.[329] In the United States, COVID-19 vaccines became available in December 2020, under emergency use, beginning the national vaccination program, with the first vaccine officially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 23 August 2021.[330]

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COVID-19 pandemic - Wikipedia

Geneva

The number of new coronavirus cases rose by 18% in the last week, with more than 4.1 million cases reported globally, according to the World Health Organization.

The U.N. health agency said in its latest weekly report on the pandemic that the worldwide number of deaths remained similar to the week before, at about 8,500. COVID-related deaths increased in three regions: the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Americas.

The biggest weekly rise in new COVID-19 cases was seen in the Middle East, where they increased by 47%, according to the report released late Wednesday. Infections rose by about 32% in Europe and Southeast Asia, and by about 14% in the Americas, WHO said.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said cases were on the rise in 110 countries, mostly driven by the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.

"This pandemic is changing, but it's not over," Tedros said this week during a press briefing. He said the ability to track COVID-19's genetic evolution was "under threat" as countries relaxed surveillance and genetic sequencing efforts, warning that would make it more difficult to catch emerging and potentially dangerous new variants.

He called for countries to immunize their most vulnerable populations, including health workers and people older than 60, saying that hundreds of millions remain unvaccinated and at risk of severe disease and death.

Tedros said that while more than 1.2 billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally, the average immunization rate in poor countries is about 13%.

"If rich countries are vaccinating children from as young as 6 months old and planning to do further rounds of vaccination, it is incomprehensible to suggest that lower-income countries should not vaccinate and boost their most at-risk [people]," he said.

According to figures compiled by Oxfam and the People's Vaccine Alliance, fewer than half of the 2.1 billion vaccines promised to poorer countries by the Group of Seven large economies have been delivered.

Earlier this month, the United States authorized COVID-19 vaccines for infants and preschoolers, rolling out a national immunization plan targeting 18 million of the youngest children.

American regulators also recommended that some adults get updated boosters in the fall that match the latest coronavirus variants.

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WHO: COVID-19 Cases Rising Nearly Everywhere Around World - Voice of America - VOA News

The total number of new cases of COVID-19 in Evanston was 191 for the week ending June 29, 12% higher than the week ending June 23. The number of new cases in the State increased by about 17%. Hospitalizations increased slightly.

Cook County, including Chicago, is ranked in the high community risk level. City officials say Evanston is in the medium risk level.

The number of new cases being reported is significantly lower than the actual number of new cases being contracted because many new cases are not being reported. [1]

Modified Vaccines?

On June 28, an advisory committee of experts convened by the Food and Drug Administration met to discuss whether and how the composition of vaccines developed to prevent COVID-19 should be modified. A briefing paper asked, Does the committee recommend inclusion of a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron component for COVID-19 booster vaccines in the United States?

There is still significant uncertainty about where the virus is headed and how it will evolve. But the committee appeared to favor a vaccine that would be a combination of the existing vaccine and also be tailored to address the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the Omicron variant. According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants now account for more than 50% of the new cases in the United States.

The committee recommended, by a 19-2 vote, that updated COVID-19 booster shots target the Omicron variant or one of its subvariants, rather than only the original version of the COVID-19 virus.

The panels recommendation is not binding on the FDA, but based on this recommendation, the FDA may encourage manufacturers to develop new boosters before an expected surge in new cases this coming winter.

Trends of New Cases in Illinois and Evanston

Illinois: On June 30, the number of new cases in the state was 4,864.

The seven-day average of new cases in Illinois on June 30 was 4,175 up from 3,575 on June 23, a17% increase. The chart below shows the trend.

Evanston: Evanston reported there were 42 new COVID-19 cases of Evanston residents on June 29. (Evanston is reporting COVID-19 data with a one-day delay.)

There was a total of 191 new COVID-19 cases of Evanston residents in the week ending June 29, compared to 218 new cases in the week ending June 23, a decrease of about 12%.

The chart below shows the trend.

Two Evanstonians died due to COVID-19 during the week ending June 29. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 increased to 152.

Northwestern University. The latest data reported on NUs website is that between June 17 and June 23 there were 106 new COVID-19 cases of faculty, staff or students. If the cases are of an Evanston resident, they are included in Evanstons data for the relevant period, Ike Ogbo, Director of Evanstons Department of Health and Human Services told the RoundTable. NU will update its data tomorrow.

Cases Per 100,000

The weekly number of new cases per 100,000 people in Illinois is 229 in the seven days ending June 30.

As of June 29, the weekly number of new cases per 100,000 people in Evanston was 258. As of June 30, the number was 209for Chicago, and 232 for Suburban Cook County. An accompanying chart shows the trend.

Hospitalizations

Hospitalizations in Illinois due to COVID-19 have stayed about the same in the last four weeks. They were 1,170 on June 22, about 40 more than one week ago.

The chart below, prepared by the City of Evanston, shows the trends in hospitalizations due to COVID-19 at the closest three hospitals serving Evanston residents.

Cook County and Evanston are in the Medium Risk Level

The CDC and IDPH look at the combination of three metrics to determine whether a community level of risk for COVID-19 is low, medium, or high. They are: 1) the total number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last 7 days; 2) the new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 in the last 7 days; and 3) the percent of staffed inpatient hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients. [2]

The City of Evanston reported this evening, June 30, that Evanston is in the medium risk category. IDPH reported today that Cook County, including Chicago, is in the high risk category. Lake and DuPage counties are also in the high risk category.

While Evanston has more than 200 new cases per 100,000 people, the City reported this evening that the City has a 7-day total of 2.56 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people, and that it has 3.2% staffed inpatient hospital beds that are occupied by COVID patients (using a 7-day average).

The City has not said which hospitals or how many hospitals it is considering in making its analysis of community risk.

The CDC and IDPH recommend that people in a community with a high transmission rate should take the following precautions:

FOOTNOTES

1/The City of Evanston says that the State, the County and the City do not have a mechanism to report, verify or track at home test results. Because a positive at home test is regarded as highly accurate, most people who test positive in an at home test do not get a second test outside the home that is reported to government officials. The number of new COVID-19 cases reported by IDPH and the City thus significantly understates the actual number of new cases that are contracted. Some studies estimate the cases are underestimated by 600% or more.

2/ CDC recommends the use of three indicators to measure COVID-19 Community Levels: 1) new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the last 7 days; 2) new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population in the last 7 days; and 3) the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by patients with confirmed COVID-19 (7-day average).

The chart below illustrates how these indicators are combined to determine whether COVID-19 Community Levels are low, medium, or high. The CDC provides many recommendations depending on whether the COVID-19 Community Level is low, medium, or high.

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COVID-19 update as of June 30: Cook County jumps to a 'high' community risk level, Evanston remains in the 'medium' risk level. - Evanston RoundTable

Editors note: The Salt Lake Tribune is providing free access to critical stories about the coronavirus. Sign up for our Top Stories newsletter, sent to your inbox every morning. To support journalism like this, please donate or become a subscriber.

Nineteen more Utahns died of COVID-19 in the past week, as numbers rose almost across the board, according to the Utah Department of Health.

An increase in number of deaths, up from 10 last week. An increase in the number of cases. An increase in the average cases per day. And an increase in the percentage of people testing positive, to almost a third of those reported.

Hospitalizations were the exception. There was only one more patient hospitalized with the coronavirus this week compared to last week, and the number of patients in intensive care dropped.

The 19 people whose deaths were reported in the past week brought the states total death toll since the pandemic began to 4,834, according to the Utah Department of Health. One previously reported death a Davis County man, between the ages of 45 and 64 was taken off the list after further testing.

Another 7,406 cases of the coronavirus also were reported, 1,509 more than the previous week. Since the pandemic began, there have been almost 983,000 cases reported in the Beehive State.

In the past week, the states seven-day average of new cases climbed to 1,058, up from 967.7 the previous week.

State officials are looking less to new cases as a way to track COVID-19 spread, as fewer people are getting tested since the state shuttered most of its free testing facilities. In the past seven days, 23,682 people were tested, 285 fewer than the week before. The weekly rate of positive tests rose from 23.02% to 25.92%.

Instead, experts are looking at other metrics, like hospitalizations and emergency room visits, to judge the severity of coronavirus outbreaks. State data also shows an increase in emergency room visits.

Officials urge those who test positive or have COVID-19 symptoms to stay home to avoid infecting others. Isolation guidance is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/protect-yourself.

They also urge Utahns to get up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, which can prevent serious illness.

Data shows coronavirus patients made up 5.2% of emergency room visits in the past week, up from 4.61% the previous week.

Since last week, 267 more Utahns have been hospitalized with coronavirus, bringing the total to 35,872 patients hospitalized since the pandemic began. There were 216 COVID-19 patients in Utah hospitals as of Thursday, one more than a week ago.

The number of COVID-19 patients in ICUs decreased by 11, to 28.

The state reported 15,923 more Utahns received a COVID-19 vaccine since June 23, the last time it released data. Of those, 1,826 are now fully vaccinated, meaning they have had two doses of an mRNA series vaccine, like Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, or one dose of the Janssen vaccine.

About 62.5% of Utahns a total of 2,031,689 are fully vaccinated, and 29.4% have received at least one booster shot, the data shows.

Vaccine doses administered in the past week/total doses administered 15,923 / 5,254,294.

Number of Utahns fully vaccinated 2,031,689 62.5% of Utahs total population.

Cases reported in the past week: 7,406.

Average cases per day reported in the past week 1,058, up from 967.7 the previous week.

Tests reported from June 24-30 23,682.

Deaths reported in the past week 19.

There were six deaths in Weber County: A man 65-84, and a man and four women 85-plus.

Four of the deaths were in Salt Lake County: A woman 45-64, a man 65-84, and a man and a woman 85-plus.

There were three deaths in Utah County, all women 65-84. And two Davis County residents died: A man 65-84, and a woman 85-plus.

The other deaths were a Cache County woman 65-84, a Tooele County man 85-plus, a Uintah County man 25-44, and a Wasatch County man 65-84.

Hospitalizations reported this week 216 as of Thursday, a decline of one in the past week. There were 28 patients in intensive care, 11 fewer than reported a week ago.

Percentage of positive tests Counting all test results, including repeated tests of the same person, this weeks rate was 25.92%. That is higher than the previous seven-day average of 23.02%.

Not counting individuals repeated test results, this weeks rate of people testing positive was 32.79%, higher than the previous seven-day average of 29.32%.

Totals to date 982,895 cases; 4,834 deaths; 35,872 hospitalizations.

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19 more Utahns died of COVID-19, and the number of cases is on the rise - Salt Lake Tribune