Category Archives: Covid-19

A vaccination center worker inoculates a woman with the Biontech vaccine against Covid-19 in Lower Saxony. Moritz Frankenber/dpa/picture alliance via Getty I hide caption

A vaccination center worker inoculates a woman with the Biontech vaccine against Covid-19 in Lower Saxony.

Another wave of COVID-19 is sweeping across Europe, setting new records in some countries.

Records for daily infections have been shattered in recent days in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria. While deaths from COVID-19 are way down from last year in many European countries, Russia with barely a third of its population vaccinated has seen a steady two-month surge and now leads the world in total coronavirus deaths for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

The Netherlands' government announced Friday the country will return to a partial lockdown starting Saturday in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus cases.

The World Health Organization's COVID-19 report for the week ending Nov. 7 showed that Europe, including Russia, was the only region with a rise in deaths from the virus, up 10%. Overall, new coronavirus cases were on the decline in most of the world, but were up 7% in Europe and 3% in Africa.

Last week, the WHO's director for Europe, Dr. Hans Kluge, said the region "is back at the epicenter of the pandemic where we were one year ago."

A virologist at Warwick Medical School in the U.K., Lawrence Young, told Reuters that the latest surge is yet another hard lesson for Europe. "If there's one thing to learn from this it's not to take your eye off the ball," he said.

Vaccine hesitancy, waning immunity among the already inoculated and relaxed restrictions are all considered factors in the new wave, according to Reuters.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed the surge in new cases and deaths in there squarely on hesitancy, saying he can't understand why Russians are reluctant to get the country's Sputnik V vaccine.

In Germany, where cases on Thursday surged to a new record of more than 50,000, the country's health minister, Jens Spahn, has said his country must do "everything necessary" to break the latest wave of the disease, Deutsche Welle reported.

"The situation is serious and I recommend that everyone takes it as such," he said. Spahn and the head of Germany's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases, Lothar Wieler, warned that intensive care units across the country were under severe strain from COVID-19 patients, particularly in the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Bavaria.

Spahn said free COVID-19 tests will be offered again starting Saturday.

Olaf Scholz, likely to succeed Angela Merkel as Germany's next chancellor, has called on people either to be vaccinated, recovered or have negative tests to go to work and for stricter rules to enter restaurants and cinemas.

Nearly a third of Germany's population is not yet fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

By contrast, Portugal and Spain where new cases have been minimal top the European vaccination statistics, with rates in excess of 80%. Infections are also low in France, which has kept restrictions in place since summer, including a requirement to show a vaccine passport to do nearly everything.

Austria which has a vaccination rate similar to Germany's and has also posted record infections in the past week appears to be days away from imposing a lockdown for anyone who is not fully inoculated.

Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg has called a national lockdown for the unvaccinated "probably inevitable," adding that two-thirds of the population should not have to suffer because the other third refused to be vaccinated.

If the federal government approves, Upper Austria will impose restrictions on the unvaccinated beginning Monday. Salzburg is considering similar measures.

Schallenberg said the unvaccinated face an "uncomfortable" winter and Christmas.

In the Netherlands, a three-week partial lockdown was announced Friday, Reuters reported.

During a news conference Friday, caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the country will return to a partial lockdown starting Saturday ordering all bars and restaurants to close at 8 p.m. and sporting events to be held without audiences.

Dutch government officials also recommended that no more than four visitors be allowed in people's homes.

Denmark, which has also seen a recent upswing in cases, this week ordered its people to present a pass in the form of a smartphone app when they enter bars, restaurants and other public places. It is also considering fast-track legislation to require a digital "corona pass" for employers, according to Reuters.

While the United Kingdom saw a similar increase in cases last month, there are signs of a leveling off since then.

NPR's Jonathan Franklin contributed to this report.

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Europe and Russia battle a new wave of COVID-19 - NPR

Theres another pill to treat COVID-19 thats expected to be considered for federal approval after Pfizer announced Friday that its new antiviral drug is 89% effective in reducing hospitalizations and deaths from the virus in high-risk adults.

Pfizer, the company behind one of the three COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the United States, said the clinical trial for the drug paxlovid will be stopped due to the overwhelming efficacy demonstrated in these results. The company said it is seeking emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Last month, Merck and Florida-based Ridgeback Biotherapeutics submitted a similar request for their drug, molnupiravir, after finding it cut the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by about 50% in adults seen as likely to progress to severe illness because theyre older or have certain medical conditions, such as heart disease.

The United Kingdom became the first country to approve the use of the Merck pill Thursday.

The pills, the first medication for COVID-19 patients that can be taken orally rather than being injected or given intravenously, like monoclonal antibody treatments, are being called a game changer for a pandemic now in its second year.

But Dr. Brandon Webb, an Intermountain Healthcare infectious diseases physician, said while the new antiviral treatments are good news, the pills should not be seen as a substitute for getting vaccinated against the virus and taking other preventive measures such as wearing a mask.

Treatments should be looked at as a safety net or a Band-Aid for individuals who unfortunately do get COVID, Webb said. But theyre not a solution to the pandemic.

Still to come, the doctor said, is detailed data about how safe the pills are to take, and how well theyre tolerated by patients. The Pfizer pill series includes a protease inhibitor, part of the drug cocktail treatment for HIV patients thats been in use for many years.

There will be some really important real-world practicalities, he said. From having treated patients with HIV with protease inhibitors, we know that those are very commonly associated with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as a number of other drug interactions and other things we need to watch out for.

The pills were initially studied in high-risk patients who had not gotten vaccinated, Webb said, the group most likely to see the biggest benefit. At least initially, the pills are expected to be authorized only for adults considered at high risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19, and administered under a doctors care, he said.

Before we crown it a game changer, I think its important to recognize that these oral drugs may not be for everyone. Not everyone will tolerate them, Webb said, and some may be taking other drugs for medical conditions that could cause issues.

All drugs have side effects and all drugs have a risk versus benefit profile, he said, adding that its important for people to understand that right now, we dont know that the safety of the pills is any better than the safety of the vaccines.

Concerns have been raised about treatments being viewed as an alternative to vaccination, considered the key to stopping the spread of the deadly virus, Webb said. In Florida and other states, people have skipped vaccines and other cheaper methods of preventing COVID-19 in favor of monoclonal antibody treatments that cost $2,100.

Theres always a concern in the current political environment that the role of treatments for COVID will be misinterpreted as a primary therapy rather than a secondary therapy that is intended to complement preventive measures and vaccinations, Webb said.

Only developing immunity to the virus through widespread vaccination can prevent the emergence of new variants like the delta variant that drove up case counts, hospitalizations and deaths starting last summer and stop the pandemic, the doctor said.

Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla touted the pills in a news release as having the potential to save patients lives, reduce the severity of COVID-19 infections, and eliminate up to nine out of 10 hospitalizations.

Bourla called the news of the clinical trial results a real game changer in the global efforts to halt the devastation of this pandemic.

A Pfizer executive who led the drugs development, Annaliesa Anderson, said, The results are really beyond our wildest dreams, the New York Times reported. She said he hopes the new drug can have a big impact on helping all our lives go back to normal again and seeing the end of the pandemic.

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Pfizer announces pill to treat COVID-19. Heres what you need to know - Deseret News

Can the Packers beat the Chiefs without Aaron Rodgers?

Sports Seriously: Aaron Rodgers will be out this week after testing positive for COVID-19. Andy Nesbitt and Charles Curtis discuss whether Jordan Love can still lead Green Bay to a win Sunday in Kansas City.

Sports Seriously, USA TODAY

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his first public comments Friday since testing positive for COVID-19, addressing why he told the news media in August that he was "immunized" and why he is not vaccinated.

Rodgers will not play in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs and won't be allowed at the team facility for the next 10 days, according to NFL protocols.

He addressed the controversy and backlash for 45 minutes on the"Pat McAfee Show," offering a strong rebuke of the process and referencing several debunked talking points circulating among people opposed to the vaccine.

DANGEROUSLY MISINFORMED: Aaron Rodgers isn't a victim of 'woke mob'

RODGERS HAS COVID: He lied about being vaccinated, and being a team player

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"I am somebody who's a critical thinker," he said. "I believe strongly in bodily autonomy and the ability to make choices for your body."

However, Rodgers said he is not a so-called "anti-vaxxer."

"I am not a COVID-denieror any (expletive) like that," Rodgers said. "I just wanted to make the best choice for my body."

Rodgers said he has been tested dailyper NFL protocol and said he was "in the cross hairs of the woke mob right now."

"So, before my final nail gets put in my cancel culture casket, I'd like to set the record straight on so many of the blatant lies out there. I tested for COVID over 300 times before testing for possible positive and I probably got it from a vaccinated player," Rodgers said.

He hasn't provided details on which infected player he believes he was exposed to or any details of where or when he could have been exposed.

The three-time MVP claimed he did extensiveresearch on the vaccines, but said he was allergic to something in both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Hesought alternative treatment when he said the two vaccines available weren't right for him.

"For me it involved a lot of studying in the offseason," Rodgers said. "I put a lot of time and energy into researching and met with a lot of different people in the medical field to get the most information about the vaccines before making a decision."

Rodgers also said he consulted with his friend Joe Rogan and mentioned ivermectin, a medicine that is generally used to treatthreadworms, roundwormsand other parasites. That medicine is not approved for use in battling COVID-19 by the Food and Drug Administration.

"The specific protocol, I am going to keep between me and my doctors," he said.

Rodgers appealed to the NFL on his unnamed alternative treatment, which was rejected, and says that the Packers, his teammates and the NFL knew of his status when he was questioned by the media in August.

"I have followed every single protocol to a T, except that one that makes absolutely no sense to me," Rodgers said, referencing that unvaccinated players must be six feet apart and wearing a mask when speaking to the media.

He also saidan NFL doctor had told himit would be impossible for a vaccinated person to catch or spread COVID. The NFL refuted Rodgers' claim later Friday, telling Pro Football Talk,"No doctor from the league or the joint NFL-NFLPA infectious disease consultants communicated with the player. If they had, they certainly would have never said anything like that."

On the McAfee show, Rodgerswent on to mentioncivil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., saying,"The great MLK said, 'You have a moral obligation to object to unjust rules and rules that make no sense.'"

Rodgers said he was excited for his backup Jordan Love to play against the Chiefs and has talked to him concerning Sunday's game.

"I feel really good and if this was the flu, I would be playing on Sunday.I hope we can take a step backwith the lying and the witch hunt," he said.

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Aaron Rodgers confirms hes unvaccinated, has taken ivermectin in first comments after testing positive for COVID-19 - USA TODAY

A resort at Natadola Bay in Fiji is among many to have felt the effect of COVID on tourism. Aileen Torrest-Bennett/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A resort at Natadola Bay in Fiji is among many to have felt the effect of COVID on tourism.

The main island of Tonga has gone into a week-long lockdown after the South Pacific nation reported its very first COVID-19 case of the pandemic late last week.

The COVID-positive traveler, who is fully vaccinated and was showing no symptoms, arrived in Tonga last Wednesday on a flight from Christchurch, New Zealand. All 214 others aboard the flight have tested negative and the infected traveler, a young missionary, is currently quarantined in a facility.

"So far, we're very happy that nothing else has happened besides that one case," Dr. Viliami Puloka told NPR from his home in Nuku'alofa, the capital of Tonga. The retired general practitioner and public health specialist said it was just a matter of time before the virus reached them.

"I think in general, people do understand what is happening and it's been expected that at some point, as long as this virus is anywhere, this virus everywhere," he said.

Under the lockdown, which began at midnight Tuesday, schools, bars and restaurants will be closed for a week and a curfew imposed on the island of Tongatapu, where a majority of Tonga's population lives. People will only be able to leave their homes for essential business, such as getting groceries, medicine or banking.

Puloka said while the chance of the virus getting out into the wider community was very slim, the community seemed keen to keep it from spreading. The confirmed case has spurred a rush to get vaccinated, according to local media.

"I think it was just kind of disappointing because they were looking forward to opening up the border and accepting people from outside, but this is what has happened," Puloka said.

Small Pacific island nations and territories have been spared the worst of the pandemic because of their ability to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.

Puloka said if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to happen in Tonga, a cluster of islands about 500 miles southeast of Fiji, its limited resources and natural isolation would foster "a very huge disaster that I don't think we can really handle."

Yet shutting borders long-term for countries that depend economically on commodity exports and tourism has led to a glaring irony of the pandemic: Those who have managed to keep the pandemic out may be some of the last to recover from it.

A policy brief from the Australia-based Lowy Institute released last year warned that countries and territories across the Pacific faced a potential "lost decade" and a permanent economic setback due to the economic and social damage wrought by the pandemic.

A year later, the outlook for the region remains largely the same, says Roland Raja, lead economist at the Lowy Institute.

"Economically speaking, the recovery has been very slow in the Pacific, while the rest of the world is bouncing back," he told NPR.

The slow bounce-back of tourism in some Pacific countries and territories is to blame. While others, such as Papua New Guinea the largest economy in the region and a country dependent on commodity exports are simply more overwhelmed with COVID-19 than they were last year, Raja said.

And while the region as a whole has a good vaccination rate, Raja says the light at the end of the tunnel "is not actually even clear."

"I think at the moment, that's what it looks like the Pacific is very much likely to be amongst the slowest, if not the slowest region, to recover from from this crisis," he said.

Some countries across the vast Pacific, which includes 2.3 million people spread across roughly 15% of the globe, have attempted to balance their economic needs with the health of their people.

French Polynesia is one of them. Tourism is the French overseas territory's main economic driver and officials have estimated a nearly $1.2 billion loss because the pandemic brought international tourism to a standstill.

Tourists go snorkeling in Fiji. Tourism has taken a major hit in the Pacific. Victor Bonito/Reef Explorer Fiji/AFP via Getty hide caption

Tourists go snorkeling in Fiji. Tourism has taken a major hit in the Pacific.

After initially shutting its borders in March of 2020, French Polynesia, which includes renowned tourist islands Tahiti and Bora Bora, has since opened and closed its borders a handful of times. The territory has also made exceptions for French citizens and locals, such as politicians, to travel in and out, says Guillaume Colombani, a long-time tourism worker in Tahiti.

Still, he says that since the start of the pandemic the tourism sector "has suffered a lot."

Paris controls the borders. Each time they're opened, people there get "very scared," Colombani says. French Polynesia has racked up over 45,000 COVID-19 cases and some 636 deaths.

This attempted balancing act has left many, like Colombani, unsure "that all the decisions that were made or taken were very good for us."

View original post here:

Tonga recorded its first-ever COVID-19 case as Pacific charts pandemic recovery - NPR

November 5, 2021

Now that the Delta variant which is more easily transmissible than previous strains of COVID-19 is widespread, its important for families to take steps to protect their children from getting sick. The Delta variant is infecting children more frequently than other strains of COVID-19 did.

Hospitals around the country have seen greater numbers of children who are affected by COVID-19, now that the Delta variant accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases nationwide, says pediatric infectious disease specialist, Mariawy Riollano-Cruz, M.D. Many children who become ill with the Delta variant only experience mild symptoms, but a small number get quite sick and require hospitalization.

Doctors and researchers are still learning about COVID-19 and the Delta variant, but they know many things so far. Here are answers to questions that you may have about kids and COVID-19:

The Delta variant is more than twice as contagious as the original COVID-19 variants among all people, including children; it spreads more quickly between people and causes more people to become sick.

Some evidence suggests that the Delta variant may cause more serious illness among unvaccinated people than previous strains, but more research is needed.

Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to help prevent serious illness caused by the Delta variant.

Getting children 5 and older vaccinated should lower their risk of serious illness. Parents of younger children who arent eligible for COVID-19 vaccines yet should get vaccinated to help protect their children, because vaccination reduces the risk of passing COVID-19 to other people.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, is a complication thats associated with COVID-19. Doctors arent sure of its exact cause, but the condition has appeared in certain children who have had COVID-19 or who were exposed to the virus.

MIS-C causes inflammation in different body parts, such as the heart, lungs, brain, digestive system, kidneys, eyes or skin. The child may present with prolonged fevers, generalized pain including the chest and neck, fatigue, headaches, rashes, red eyes, swelling and redness of the tongue, swelling of the extremities, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, confusion and/or trouble breathing.

In most cases, MIS-C requires hospitalization. Most children improve with treatment, but it may take a while for some to come back to their baseline behavior and level of activity. Many patients had a very mild COVID-19 infection about one month before the MIS-C diagnosis was made.

Experts arent sure why some children develop MIS-C and others dont. To reduce your childs risk of getting sick, take steps to keep COVID-19 out of your household, so that your children wont be exposed to the virus.

Here are several ways that you can help protect your children from COVID-19:

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

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Can Children Become Seriously Ill With COVID-19? - Articles and Videos, COVID-19, Featured, Health Topics, Pediatrics - Hackensack Meridian Health

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have passed 248.7 million globally, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of confirmed deaths has now passed 5.03 million. More than 7.19 billion vaccination doses have been administered globally, according to Our World in Data.

President Joe Biden will enforce a mandate that workers at US companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly starting Jan. 4, 2022. The announcement spurred legal challenges from Republican governors who say Biden is overstepping his authority.

Europe registered a 55% rise in COVID-19 cases in the last four weeks, despite the availability of vaccines, which should serve as a "warning shot" to other regions, World Health Organization officials said on Thursday. WHO emergency director Mike Ryan said that some European countries have "sub-optimal vaccination coverage" despite availability.

The first step in Japan's planned phased re-opening of borders, which centres on business travellers, will be put into effect from Nov. 8, the government said on Friday. The change will shorten COVID-19 quarantine periods for inbound business travellers from 10 days to three if they have proof of vaccination, the government said.

Indonesia's economic growth slowed more than expected in the third quarter as restrictions to control a wave of COVID-19 weighed on activity, although recent data suggests growth may be getting back on track in the current quarter. Southeast Asia's largest economy grew 3.51% in the July-September quarter, below the previous quarter's 7.07% expansion.

The City of Vienna said on Thursday it is banning people not vaccinated against COVID-19 from cafes, restaurants and events with more than 25 people, pre-empting measures that are likely to be introduced across Austria soon as infections are surging.

Daily new confirmed COVID-19 cases per million people in selected countries.

Image: Our World in Data

Britain on Thursday became the first country in the world to approve a potentially game-changing COVID-19 antiviral pill jointly developed by US-based Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, in a boost to the fight against the pandemic.

Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency recommended the drug, molnupiravir, for use in people with mild to moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor for developing severe illness, such as obesity, older age diabetes, and heart disease.

It will be administered as soon as possible following a positive COVID-19 test and within five days of the onset of symptoms, the regulator said, citing clinical data.

The green light is the first for an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19 and the first for a COVID-19 drug that will be administered widely in the community. US advisers will meet this month to vote on whether molnupiravir should be authorized.

Treatments to tackle the pandemic have so far focused mainly on vaccines. Other options, including Gilead's infused antiviral remdesivir and generic steroid dexamethasone, are generally only given after a patient has been hospitalized.

Merck's molnupiravir has been closely watched since data last month showed it could halve the chances of dying or being hospitalized for those most at risk of developing severe COVID-19 when given early in the illness.

The World Health Organization called on Thursday for vaccine makers to prioritize deliveries of COVID-19 jabs to the COVAX dose-sharing facility for poorer countries and said that no more doses should go to countries with more than 40% coverage.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said that boosters should not be administered except to people who are immunocompromised.

"We continue to call on manufacturers of vaccines that already have a WHO Emergency Use Listing to prioritize COVAX, not shareholder profit," he said. The WHO listing of Indian drugmaker Bharat Biotech's Covaxin on Wednesday contributes to vaccine equity, he added.

The first human trial of a COVID-19 vaccine was administered this week.

CEPI, launched at the World Economic Forum, provided funding support for the Phase 1 study. The organization this week announced their seventh COVID-19 vaccine project in the fight against the pandemic.

The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched in 2017 at the Forum's Annual Meeting bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines against emerging infectious diseases and to enable access to these vaccines during outbreaks.

Coalitions like CEPI are made possible through public-private partnerships. The World Economic Forum is the trusted global platform for stakeholder engagement, bringing together a range of multistakeholders from business, government and civil society to improve the state of the world.

Organizations can partner with the Forum to contribute to global health solutions. Contact us to find out how.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 5 November - World Economic Forum

General view of Porec, Croatia, April 20, 2021. Picture is taken with drone on April 20, 2021. REUTERS/Antonio Bronic

ZAGREB, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Amid new record-high COVID-19 daily infections Croatia decided on Friday to tighten measures against the spreading of the disease, including introducing obligatory digital certificates for public sector employees.

Croatia reported 6,932 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the highest daily number since the beginning of the pandemic. Slightly over 50% of around four million Croats are fully vaccinated and experts largely blame a low vaccination rate for a large increase in the number of infections in recent weeks.

"To prevent the disease from spreading we need to reduce the number of people that can gather indoors, increase the number of vaccinated people and increase safety when doing business," said Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic.

The number of people that can gather indoors will be reduced from this weekend to 50 from 100 unless they have digital certificates that prove they are vaccinated, tested negative or already had the disease.

All indoor gatherings will have to be over by midnight.

From Nov. 15 digital certificates will be obligatory for all public sector employees and all citizens who need services in the public sector institutions. So far, it was a condition only in the health sector and among social care workers.

"If the number of infections continue rising from Nov. 15 we will also introduce digital certificates for entering bars, restaurants or fitness centers," Bozinovic said.

He added that from Jan. 4, 2022, unless the situation improves, the digital certificates will be valid only for those who are vaccinated or have had the disease. Currently it is valid also for those who have tested negative for the virus.

"This period is enough for those who are not vaccinated to do so by the end of the year," Bozinovic said.

Reporting by Igor IlicEditing by Chizu Nomiyama

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Croatia tightens measures to fight spreading of COVID-19 - Reuters

As public health officials, we are issuing this statewide advisory due to steadily increasing cases and concern for hospital bed capacity. Colorado and the metro Denver region continue to see steady increases in COVID-19 cases. On November 4, Colorados daily case rate (49 per 100,000) was the 5th highest in the country and one of the fastest-growing. The metro regions 7-day average positivity rate is over 8%, which suggests a continued surge in cases.

On Oct. 30, the metro region had 581 hospitalizations due to COVID-19 a number that has been increasing over the past weeks. A majority of these COVID hospitalizations (about 80%) continue to be among the unvaccinated. Hospitals serving the metro Denver are full or nearing capacity due to both COVID-19, non-COVID-19 emergencies, and other routine visits, with less than 10% of staffed beds available a trend not seen at any other point in the pandemic. Nearly 40% of hospitals report current or anticipated staff shortages within the next week. Governor Polis stated that if this surge continues, Colorado will need to request FEMA medical surge teams, halt elective surgeries, and hospitals may need to resort to crisis standards of care.

Taking COVID-19 precautions now will not only prevent additional COVID-19 hospitalizations but will help ease the states strained hospital capacity, which puts every Coloradan who may experience a health emergency or have routine health care needs at risk.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Metro Denver Partnership for Health (MDPH) advise the following to prevent COVID-19 infection and hospitalizations:

As public health officials, we will continue to monitor trends in COVID-19, especially as the region moves into flu season and with holidays approaching, and issue advisories as needed.

Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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Public Health Advisory for the Metro Denver Region and State of Colorado COVID-19 Surge and Hospitalizations - douglas.co.us

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of November 5, 2021, there are currently 6,832 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There have been 7 deaths reported since the last report, with a total of 4,518 deaths attributed to COVID-19.

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 73-year old male from Marion County, a 91-year old male from Preston County, a 57-year old male from Harrison County, an 84-year old female from Harrison County, a 51-year old male from Raleigh County, a 72-year old male from Wood County, and a 54-year old female from Kanawha County.

Each life lost to this disease is a tragedy and we send our sympathies to the families, said Bill J. Crouch, DHHR Cabinet Secretary. We must continue to slow the growth of this virus in West Virginia through vaccination and prevention measures.

CURRENT ACTIVE CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (71), Berkeley (403), Boone (121), Braxton (54), Brooke (67), Cabell (303), Calhoun (37), Clay (41), Doddridge (21), Fayette (156), Gilmer (37), Grant (74), Greenbrier (107), Hampshire (94), Hancock (138), Hardy (78), Harrison (313), Jackson (79), Jefferson (132), Kanawha (598), Lewis (68), Lincoln (181), Logan (108), Marion (299), Marshall (89), Mason (80), McDowell (68), Mercer (275), Mineral (114), Mingo (87), Monongalia (304), Monroe (45), Morgan (61), Nicholas (178), Ohio (107), Pendleton (14), Pleasants (16), Pocahontas (19), Preston (133), Putnam (298), Raleigh (265), Randolph (100), Ritchie (17), Roane (100), Summers (42), Taylor (116), Tucker (33), Tyler (15), Upshur (118), Wayne (97), Webster (33), Wetzel (61), Wirt (13), Wood (234), Wyoming (120). To find the cumulative cases per county, please visit http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov and look on the Cumulative Summary tab which is sortable by county.

Delays may be experienced with the reporting of information from the local health department to DHHR. As case surveillance continues at the local health department level, it may reveal that those tested in a certain county may not be a resident of that county, or even the state as an individual in question may have crossed the state border to be tested. Please visit http://www.coronavirus.wv.gov for more detailed information.

West Virginians 5 years and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Boosters are also available. To learn more about the vaccine, or to find a vaccine site near you, visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965.

Free pop-up COVID-19 testing is available today in Barbour, Berkeley, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Doddridge, Fayette, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Ohio, Putnam, Raleigh, Randolph, Taylor, Upshur, Wayne, and Wood counties.

Barbour County

8:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Community Market, 107 South Main Street (across the street from Walgreens), Philippi, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVBBC)

1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Junior Volunteer Fire Department, 331 Row Avenue, Junior WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Berkeley County

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, 891 Auto Parts Place, Martinsburg, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Braxton County

7:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Braxton County Memorial Hospital parking lot, 100 Hoylman Drive, Gassaway, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=Braxton)

Cabell County

8:00 AM- 4:00 PM, Marshall University Campus (parking lot), 1801 6th Avenue, Huntington, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Cabell-Huntington Health Department (parking lot), 703 Seventh Avenue, Huntington, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=MavCabell)

Clay County

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Clay County Health Department, 451 Main Street, Clay, WV

Doddridge County

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Doddridge County Park, The Barn, 1252 Snowbird Road S., West Union, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Fayette County

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Fayette County Health Department, 5495 Maple Lane, Fayetteville, WV

Grant County

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, Petersburg City Parking Lot, South Main Street (across from Walgreens), Petersburg, WV

Greenbrier County

9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, State Fair of WV, 891 Maplewood Avenue, Lewisburg, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVGBC)

Hampshire County

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Hampshire Memorial Hospital, 363 Sunrise Boulevard, Romney, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Jefferson County

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Shepherd University Wellness Center, 164 University Drive, Shepherdstown, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Hollywood Casino, 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Lincoln County

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Lincoln County Health Department, 8008 Court Avenue, Hamlin, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Logan County

12:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Old 84 Lumber Building, 100 Recovery Road, Peach Creek, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Marion County

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Dunbar School Foundation, 101 High Street, Fairmont, WV

Marshall County

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Benwood City Building, 430 Main Street, Benwood, WV

Monongalia County

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, WVU Recreation Center (lower level), 2001 Rec Center Drive, Morgantown, WV

Monroe County

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Appalachian Christian Center, 2812 Seneca Trail South, Peterstown, WV (optional registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVMRC)

Morgan County

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, War Memorial Hospital, 1 Health Way, Berkeley Springs, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Nicholas County

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Summersville Regional Medical Center, 400 Fairview Heights Road, Summersville, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVNL)

Ohio County

9:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Ohio Valley Medical Center (parking lot of former VPC South Building at the top of 22nd Street), 2000 Eoff Street, Wheeling, WV (optional pre-registration: https://roxbylabs.dendisoftware.com/patient_registration/)

Putnam County

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Liberty Square Shopping Center, parking lot, 613 Putnam Village, Hurricane, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Raleigh County

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department, 1602 Harper Road, Beckley, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=MavBeckleyRaleigh)

Randolph County

8:00 AM - 3:30 PM, parking lot across from Randolph-Elkins Health Department, 32 Randolph Avenue, Elkins, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVRDC)

Taylor County

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Grafton-Taylor County Health Department, 718 West Main Street (parking lot at Operations Trailer), Grafton, WV (optional pre-registration: https://wv.getmycovidresult.com/)

Upshur County

8:00 AM - 3:30 PM, Buckhannon Fire Department (parking lot), 22 South Florida Street, Buckhannon, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVUSC)

Wayne County

10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Wayne County Health Department, 217 Kenova, Avenue, Wayne, WV (optional pre-registration: https://unityphr.com/campaigns/wvlabs/covid)

Wood County

7:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Vienna Baptist Church, 3401 Grand Central Avenue, Vienna, WV (optional pre-registration: https://labpass.com/en/registration?access_code=WVMavWood1)

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

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COVID-19 Daily Update 11-5-2021 - West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Seven new COVID-19 deaths were reported in Fridays update from the South Dakota Department of Health.

There were 431 new total COVID-19 cases reported on Friday, bringing the states total case count to 156,995, up from Thursday (156,564).

The number of active cases reported on Friday is at 5,857, up from Thursday (5,782).

The death toll from COVID-19 is at 2,267, up from Thursday (2,260). The new deaths include three men and four women in the following age ranges: 20-29 (1); 60-69 (2); 70-79 (4).

Current hospitalizations are at 187, up from Thursday (173). Total hospitalizations are at 7,974, up from Thursday (7,947).

Total recovered cases are now at 148,871, up from Thursday (148,522). The latest seven-day PCR test positivity rate for the state is 13.6% for October 28 Nov. 3.

The DOH currently reports total tests each day. There have been 1,628,101 total tests reported as of Friday, up 4,394 from 1,623,707, total tests reported Thursday.

Of South Dakotas 66 counties, 58 are listed as having high or substantial community spread. High community spread is 100 cases or greater per 100,000 or a 10% or greater PCR test positivity rate.

There have been 650 Delta variant cases (B.1.617.2, AY.1-AY.25) detected in South Dakota through sentinel monitoring, an increase of one over Thursday.

There have been 172 cases of the B.1.1.7 (Alpha variant), three cases of P.1. (Gamma variant) and two cases of the B.1.351 (Beta variant).

The DOH announced changes to how it reports vaccinations on the COVID-19 dashboard as of Monday, October 14. It now includes a breakout of how many people have received booster doses. Due to data clean-up efforts, the percentages of people whove received one dose or completed the series have changed. Findthe DOH explanation in this story.

As of Friday, 68.09% of the population 12-years-old and above has received at least one dose while 58.39% have completed the vaccination series. 9.69% of those eligible have completed their booster dose.

There have been 520,535 doses of the Pfizer vaccine administered, 365,453 of the Moderna vaccine and 31,349 doses of the Janssen vaccine.

There have been 164,056 persons who have completed two doses of Moderna. There have been 224,266 persons who have received two doses of Pfizer.

As for booster doses, 49,793 people have received a 3rd Pfizer shot and 22,547 have received a 3rd Moderna dose.

See the article here:

COVID-19 in South Dakota: 431 total new cases; Death toll rises to 2,267; Active cases at 5,857 - KELOLAND.com