To help Houstonians through the coronavirus crisis, HCDD will administer $45 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This funding will be used to support the work of nonprofit organizations who are providing immediate relief in the form of rent and utility assistance programs, emergency shelter maintenance, and other activities.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has provided Houston three emergency grants, which are detailed in the tables below. More information can also be found in our revised Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan.
Within this allocation, the Public Services funding will be used to boost the work of nonprofit organizations who provide health, housing, or other services to Houstonians. The Housing Services funding will support a HOME funded rental assistance program.
The HOPWA-CV funding will assist individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families through supportive services, rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and utility assistance.
The ESG-CV funding will assist extremely low-income persons and families through street outreach, emergency shelters, homeless prevention, and rapid-rehousing programs. The Homeless Management Information System for Houston is administered by the Coalition for the Homeless.
3/27 - CARES Act Passed
U.S. Congress passes Coronavirus Aid, Relief, Economic Security Act (CARES Act), granting $9.1B to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
4/3 - HUD Notifies Cities
HUD notifies the City of Houston that it will receive $23.3M for its CARES Act allocation. City begins amending 2019 Annual Action Plan to include this funding.
5/6 - City Council Approval
Houston City Council approves Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan, including activities proposed for the $23.3M of CARES Act funding.
5/7 - Additional Application Materials
HUD notifies City of additional application materials required to receive funding.
5/14 - Grant Application Submitted
City submits grant application materials and Amended 2019 Annual Action Plan to HUD.
6/3 - Grant Executed for $23.3 M in CV Funding
City executes first CV grant agreements with HUD for $23.3M in CDGB-CV, HOPWA-CV, and ESG-CV funds.
9/18 - Grant Executed for additional $21M of ESG-CV Funding
City executes new grant agreement for an additional $21 million in ESG-CV funds.
On July 1, 2020, the City of Houston announced a collaboration with Harris County, the Houston Housing Authority, and the Houston Coalition for the Homeless to provide resources to those experiencing homelessness, who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19. A Request for Expression of Interest from Qualified Agencies (REI) was released and applications were accepted on a rolling basis through September 1, 2020. The REI application can be found on the Funding page. The budget for funds in the COVID CARES Housing Plan is a combination of sources from across jurisdictions. To see the full budget, you can download it here.
For details on applications, please attend or watch an archive of the Q&A on the REI held July 6, 2020, at 2pm-3:30pm.
Register for the Q&A session
The budget for funds in the COVID CARES Housing Plan is a combination of sources from across jurisdictions. To see the full budget, you can download it here .
In addition to the grants HCDD will administer, the City has received additional funding through the CARES Act. The City partnered with BakerRipley, a local non-profit, to provide a total of $20M in rental assistance to qualified renters who needed help making missed rent payments. They are still accepting new tenant applications and new landlord applications: https://www.bakerripleyrenthelp.org .
The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) welcomes feedback and complaints from any member of the public. Complaints are accepted in writing or over the telephone. Complaints will be responded to in writing within 15 business days, when possible.
Complaints of fraud, waste or abuse must be immediately escalated to the City of Houston Office of Inspector General , or Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General regardless of whether the complaint is informal or formal.
Mailing Address
Phone: 832.394.6200Email: HCDDComplaintsAppeal@houstontx.govBusiness Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Houston-Harris County Emergency Rental Assistance Program
You may submit your complaint using the following form , or by phone or mail.
The City of Houston Housing and Community Development Department (HCDD) welcomes feedback and complaints from any member of the public. Complaints are accepted in writing or over the telephone (832-393-0550).
Please report any complaints and suspicions of fraud, waste or abuse you observe. All potential fraud reports involving the use of Federally funded Pandemic assistance programs will be investigated.
Last year, Thailand was one of the worlds top performers at fighting the coronavirus. It sacrificed the tourism dollars that normally buoy its economy to shut out Covid-19. In September, it celebrated 100 consecutive days of no locally transmitted infections.
The government is now making a stark departure from that vision of an infection-free oasis. Its new message: Learn to live with the virus long term.
Thailand has been struggling to contain a monthslong surge in infections, fix a faltering vaccine rollout and combat growing impatience among citizens over its battered economy. Its recalibration shows how several developing countrieseven those that fared well for monthsare battling crises on multiple frontsas richer nations inoculate rapidly and reinvigorate their economies.
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha pledged this week to fully reopen the nation in the next 120 days, or by mid-October, allowing most restrictions on business and tourism to be lifted. Foreign visitors would have to be vaccinated but could enter and travel freely. Doing so, he said, would mean accepting higher infection rates, but the step is necessary to ease the enormous suffering of those struggling to earn a living.
I know this decision comes with some risk because when we open the country, there will be an increase in infections, no matter how good our precautions, he said in a televised address Wednesday. But, I think, when we take into consideration the economic needs of people, the time has now come for us to take that calculated risk.
Dallas County reported two more COVID-19 deaths and 102 new coronavirus cases Saturday.
The latest victims were a Dallas woman in her 40s and a Glenn Heights woman in her 60s. Both had underlying high-risk health conditions.
County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a written statement that this week was one of the least deadly of the last year, with the county reporting 17 COVID-19 deaths from Monday to Saturday. He cautioned people to do the right thing and get vaccinated as the weather heats up.
Unvaccinated people tend to be around other unvaccinated people, Jenkins said. If you are still unvaccinated, now is the time to get vaccinated before indoor gatherings increase the risk of you contracting this serious and potentially deadly virus. "
Of the new cases, 90 were confirmed and 12 were probable. The numbers bring the countys overall case total to 305,400, including 262,178 confirmed and 43,222 probable. The death toll is 4,109.
The average number of new daily cases in the county for the last two weeks is 110. For the previous 14-day period, the average was 100.
According to the state, 1,231,149 people in Dallas County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 1,029,102 47.2% of the countys population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
Across the state, 2,004 more cases were reported Saturday, including 1,579 new cases and 425 older ones recently reported by labs.
The state also reported 17 COVID-19 deaths, raising its toll to 51,017.
Of the new cases, 1,125 were confirmed and 454 were probable. Of the older cases, 362 were confirmed and 63 were probable.
The states case total is now 2,975,175, including 2,536,217 confirmed and 438,958 probable.
According to the state, 13,548,219 people in Texas have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 11,401,127 47.4% of the states population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
Tarrant County reported one death and 129 cases Saturday.
The latest victim was an Arlington woman in her 70s who had underlying high-risk health conditions.
Of the new cases, 84 were confirmed and 45 were probable. The numbers bring the countys case total to 262,463, including 219,347 confirmed and 43,116 probable. The death toll is 3,555.
According to the state, 918,118 people in Tarrant County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 794,479 45.7% of the countys population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
The state added one death and 12 cases to Collin Countys totals Saturday.
No details about the latest victim were available.
Of the new cases, 11 were confirmed and one was probable. The numbers bring the countys case total to 92,500, including 75,694 confirmed and 16,806 probable. The death toll is 840.
According to the state, 568,202 people in Collin County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 493,082 57% of the countys population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
Denton County no longer releases COVID-19 data over the weekend.
As of Friday, the county had a total of 76,705 COVID-19 cases, including 56,201 confirmed and 20,504 probable. The death toll stood at 604.
According to the state, 443,376 people in Denton County have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 381,760 50.9% of the countys population 12 and older are fully vaccinated.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has taken over reporting for these other North Texas counties. In some counties, new data may not be reported every day.
The latest numbers are:
Published: Jun 17, 2021
SACRAMENTOFollowing the vote by the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board to adopt revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards that reflect the states latest COVID-19 public health order, Governor Gavin Newsom today signed an executive order enabling the revisions to take effect without the normal 10-day review period by the Office of Administrative Law providing clarity and consistency for employers and employees as California fully reopens its economy.
Among other updates, Cal/OSHAs revisions align with thelatestguidance from the California Department of Public Health based on guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on face coverings and eliminate physical distancing requirements, except for certain employees during outbreaks. Unless they show symptoms, fully vaccinated employees do not need to be offered testing or be excluded from work after close contact with a COVID-19-positive person.
Ensuring workplaces throughout the state have consistent guidance as California officially movesBeyond the Blueprint, the Governors order waives the 10-day review process by the Office of Administrative Law. The emergency regulations will take effect upon their filing with the Secretary of State.With over 40 million vaccines administered and amongst the lowest case rates and transmission rates in the nation, the state fully reopened on June 15, eliminating pandemic-related restrictions that have been in place over the past year.
Initially implemented last November, the COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standards remain an important component of the states ongoing response, providing balanced worker protections that support Californias continued progress in recovering from the pandemic.
Businesses seeking assistanceto provide N95 respirators for unvaccinated employees as required bythe revised Emergency Temporary Standards can find distribution locations for state-provided N95 respiratorshere.
The full text of todays executive order can be foundhere.
More information on the revised COVID-19 Prevention Emergency Temporary Standards can be foundhere.
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What it's like traveling to the Cancun area during a COVID-19 spike
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LUBBOCK, Texas The families of law enforcement officers who died of COVID-19, were originally denied their line of duty death benefits. Thats because they couldnt prove they had actually contracted it while on the job.
The widow of former Lynn County Sheriff Abraham Vega was in this exact situation and pushed things to change and her efforts proved to be a success.
Sheriff Vega died of complications from COVID-19 in July 2020.
Its a relief that we finally got for him what he deserves, said Sheriff Vegas wife, Rachel Vega.
With the signing of Senate Bill 22 Vega has finally achieved what she spent the last year fighting so hard for.
I wasnt going to stop until he got what he deserved and the legacy he deserved, said Vega.
SB 22 allows the families of law enforcement who died due to COVID-19 to receive a line of duty death designation.This is important when it comes to insurance and workers compensation benefits.
Meaningthey died in the line of duty and their families are entitled to coverage benefits and monetary compensation after their deaths.
State representative Dustin Burrows was a joint sponsor of this bill and says it was the right thing to do.
When COVID first broke out many of us were able to stay home. We were told to stay home and do a lot of things our first responders, police, firefighters, EMTs, and correction workers could not do, said State Representative for District 83, Dustin Burrows.
Before this bill those who wished to receive line of duty death benefits were denied because it was considered too difficult to determine if the officer actually contracted COVID while on duty. That was the situation the Vega family found themselves in.
But SB 22 establishes COVID as a presumptive illness meaning any law enforcement officer who dies from COVID it is presumed they got it as a result of their service.
They shouldnt have the fear of whats going to happen if they get exposed or get sick, whether they have to go home and whether they get really sick and end up in the hospital or worse they should not have to have this fear, said Burrows.
Vega says it feels like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
A year ago my life completely changed. From A year ago to today so many things have happened and a year ago I would have never thought Id be in the place I am today, said Vega. When you believe in something and for a good cause you can stand up and make a difference.
Finally knowing her husband finally got the honor he deserved.
Knowing that his name will be one of those that is designated line of duty deaths and it just puts his name on the legacy of those who have given the ultimate price because he did, said Vega.
Vega has already started the paperwork once again for the line of duty death designation and hopes to hear back on when she will receive it in the coming months.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon isnt thrilled with the NFLPA after updated COVID-19 protocols went live.
Those protocols, agreed upon by the NFL and NFL Players Association, were announced this past week and include looser restrictions around facilities and with mask requirements for those players who are vaccinated against COVID-19. NFL NetworksTom Pelissero initially shared the memo.
If teams reach 85 percent of personnel vaccinated, they are free to resume normal operations similar to a typical year. Zac Taylors Bengals appeared to incentivize calling off the last two days of OTAs work this past week if the team got close enough to that percentage.
But Mixon, while sharing the list of protocols, expressed his displeasure:
He continued:
With team leaders like Jessie Bates speaking positively about how Taylor and Co. have handled this hurdle, Mixon for now sticks out as one of the players going public with his displeasure. That said, players being unhappy with how the NFLPA handles things isnt a new development, either.
Michigan is rescinding most of its remaining COVID-19 health and safety orderseffective June 22,Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state officials announced Thursday.
That means there will no longer be sweeping state-issued mask mandates, restrictions on gathering sizes or limits on the number of people who can be in a restaurant, store or other venue.
More:What you need to know about Michigan's changing COVID restrictions
A handful of specific rules remain, especially for"vulnerable populations in corrections, long-termcareand agriculture," according to a news release. The state is removing youth athletic testing requirements but willissue additional guidance on safety protocols for schools next week.Private businessesmay also still require masks, social distancing or other safety precautions.
But the decision by state officials comes as pandemic trends continue to improve and days ahead of July 1, the date previously set to roll back rules.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and state health officials announced the removal of most remaining CO VID-19 health and safety orders, nixing the major mask and gathering regulations a few days ahead of the previously announced July 1 timeline.(Photo: Rodney Coleman-Robinson, Detroit Free Press)
Today isaday thatwe have allbeen looking forward to, aswe can safely get back to normalday-to-day activities and put this pandemic behind us, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a news release.
We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the medical experts and health professionals who stood on the front lines to keep us all safe. And we are incredibly thankfultoall ofthe essential workers who kept our state moving.Thanks to the millions of Michiganders who rolled up their sleevesto getthe safe,effective COVID-19 vaccine,we have been able tomake these changesahead of schedule."
More: Michigan to lift all outdoor capacity restrictions June 1, eyes full reopening July 1
More: Michigan lawmakers compromise, allocate more than $6.6 billion in federal pandemic funds
As of Wednesday, more than 892,000 Michiganders hadcontracted COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. At least 19,578 have died since the start of the pandemic.
Michigan's seven-daycase ratehas dropped to 18.4 per 100,000 people, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.That's a 96.7% drop from 551.8 per 100,000 people on April 14.
The seven-day average test positivity rate had fallen to 1.6%as of Tuesday and hospitalizations had fallen to 473 adults and 21 children with confirmed cases of the virus Wednesday, a level that hasn't been seen since last summer, state data show.
The dramatic declines in pandemic indicators are driven, health experts say, by coronavirus vaccines and by better weather, which allows people to gather outdoors, where the virus is less likely to spread.
Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, said Whitmer's decision is important but does not mean the pandemic is over.
"The key factor that has allowed us to get to this point is the COVID-19 vaccine. The drop in cases and hospitalizations is a direct result of the vaccines effectiveness in preventing transmission, illness and death," Peters said in a statement.
"However, the vaccine is only effective for those who receive it. We encourage anyone who has not yet received the vaccine to speak with their physician to address any questions and to accept the safe and effective shot."
Justin Winslow, president and CEOof the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, called the news "transcendent" for his industry.
"The challenges ahead remain daunting for many, but this industry is resilient, adaptive and ready to meet this newfound opportunity head-on," Winslow said in a statement.
"The MRLA will focus its efforts going forward on sensible workforce solutions that benefit employers and employees alike."
With the state opening to full capacity earlier than expected, Matthew McGrail, executive chef at Cork & Gabel in Corktown, said the restaurant will likely add another hour and close at 11 p.m.
But McGrail doesn't expect that to happen until after the staff's upcomingpaid week off to take a break.
"I would love to add more shifts, but we don't have the staff," McGrail said. "I don't have cooks and I need another manager."
While they have enough serving staff and bartenders, McGrail said the restarant is spread thin in the kitchen and back of the house.
"If we went to full capacity seating 150 people I don't have the staff, I don't have enough cooks," McGrail said.
The move marks the latest chapter in Michigans return to normalcy, as state leaders largely cast aside orders that were crafted to save lives but were much criticized by Republicans, business leaders and others as overzealous.
The orders generally corresponded with cases, hospitalizations and deaths decreasing. But opponents argued the moves went too far in limiting businesses and restricting residents who may want to make decisions that go against the advice of health experts.
After issuing sweeping restrictions at the beginning of the pandemic last yearusing executive orders, Whitmer and health department leaders began easing them last summer. That did not stop Whitmers opponents from pursuing legal action, arguing the governor overstepped her authority by issuing many of the mandates.
In October, a divided Michigan Supreme Court agreed, issuing rulings that effectively nullified Whitmer's executive orders.
More: Michigan Supreme Court rules against Whitmer on emergency powers but effect unclear
More: Michigan health department issues sweeping COVID-19 regulations that mirror Whitmer orders
But the surge in coronaviruscases in the fall prompted the Whitmer administration to find another way toimplement new regulations using the authority of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to issue emergency orders to control an epidemic.
Ultimately, rising case rates and other negative COVID-19 trends prompted the health department to temporarily bar in-person high school and college courses, end indoor dining at restaurants and require many other businesses to halt indoor operations.
Most of these restrictions were lifted within weeks, and COVID-19 trends improved, but the moves prompted immense criticism from Republican lawmakers and many others. Families angry about restrictions on youth athletics rallied at the statehouse and several restaurants launched ultimately doomed legal bids to overturn the orders.
More: Whitmer asked me to resign, says ex-Michigan health department director Robert Gordon
More: Meet Elizabeth Hertel, arguably the most powerful person in Michigan
By February, the state largely stopped implementing new COVID-19 restrictions, withWhitmer and her team pointing to the growing availability of vaccines as the silver bullet to get the state back to normal. But logistical and self-inflicted challenges with distributing and administering enough vaccines along withvaccine hesitancy among residents quickly pushed Michigan to become the worst pandemic hot spot in the nation.
But against the advice of the CDC and amid worseningCOVID-19 trends,the state declined to implement some of the regulations that were deemed lifesaving earlier in the pandemic.
Republicans supported the move.
More: Michigan Senate GOP bill, backed by restaurant group, would mean no indoor dining now
More: Expert who spoke to Whitmer on new orders: Michigan is 'losing the race to the virus'
Vaccination rates climbed, especially once every Michigander 16 and older became eligibleon April 5. But they slowed sooner than perhaps some expected, leaving the state well short of the governors initially stated goal of 70% of eligible residents with at least one vaccine dose.
Despite the stagnating rates, federal changes opened the door to Michigan easing restrictions sooner.
In May, the CDC announced that any vaccinated person no longer needed to wear masks indoors or outdoors. The move spurred a frenzy of announcements from private businesses and huge demand to change Michigan health orders.Shortly thereafter, Whitmer announced the state would ease many restrictions on June 1 and the remainder by the start of July.
More: CDC says no masks for fully vaccinated; Michigan order still mandates masks in many cases
More: CDC's new COVID-19 mask guidelines raise fears for most vulnerable
Even with fewer regulations and orders, the generational crises spurred by the pandemic are not going away anytime soon.
Businesses continue to grapple with the impact of trying to keep their customers and workforce safe while navigating rapidly changing regulations. School leaders are faced with trying to ensure the safety of their students many of whom are not yet eligible for vaccines eradicateany learning loss caused by online classes and appease passionate parents who are desperate for their children to return to in-person learning.
Lawmakers are still moving forward on a series of fronts examining the impact of the pandemic.
And there is still no final deal on how to spend billions of dollars in federal coronavirus aid and finalizing a state budget. At the same time, Republican lawmakers continue to blast the governor over her pandemic nursing home policies.
These debates, and the coronavirus itself, are not going away anytime soon.
Free Press staff writer Susan Selasky contributed to this report.
Contact Dave Boucher: dboucher@freepress.com or 313-938-4591. Follow him on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.
Read or Share this story: https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2021/06/17/michigan-restrictions-covid-19-gretchen-whitmer/7716580002/
In early January 2021, travelers returning to Tokyo, Japan, from Amazonas, Brazil, were screened for COVID-19 at the airport. A few days later, the National Institute of Infectious Disease of Japan announced that the travelers had returned with a new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
That variant, known as gamma, or P.1, led to a deadly surge in COVID-19 cases in Brazil this spring, and has now spread across the world. More than 200 cases have been detected in Wisconsin. Whether current vaccines are as effective against the gamma variant remains unknown.
In a new study using variant virus recovered from one of the original travelers, researchers in the U.S. and Japan have found that vaccination with an mRNA vaccine induces antibody responses that would protect humans from infection with the gamma/P.1 variant. Hamsters previously infected with the virus strains first circulating in early 2020 were also protected from infection with the gamma variant nine months later.
The findings, the researchers say, suggest that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccines that are based on earlier strains of the virus still provide protection against infection with gamma. The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on June 17, 2021.
The animals were quite protected, says study lead Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a professor of virology at the University of WisconsinMadison School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Tokyo. There may be people who get infected with this variant even though they are vaccinated or were previously infected, but they shouldnt get severe disease.
However, he says, that is not consistent with what has been happening in Brazil, where there have been reports of people reinfected with the gamma variant after recovering from infection with an earlier strain. Its possible, Kawaoka says, that COVID-19 immunity lasts longer in hamsters than in humans, or that cases documented as reinfections are actually first infections.
Kawaokas research team established the Syrian hamster model for COVID-19 last year, after demonstrating that hamsters are highly susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and develop disease similar to humans, like ground glass opacity in their lungs. They also develop lasting antibodies that protect against reinfection.
Animal models are great because (they allow us to) test vaccines, test drugs, test monoclonal antibodies and even do pathogenesis (studies), says Kawaoka.
In fact, his team studied the gamma variant in hamsters because, while previous studies suggested P.1 might bind better to cells and resist antibodies created by previous infections or vaccination, little is known about the variants ability to replicate in the body, how much illness or pathogenesis it causes, or how well immune responses react to the virus.
The researchers infected hamsters with either the P.1/gamma variant isolated from the traveler, or with one of two earlier strains of the virus from human samples one isolated from a patient in February 2020, and the other from a patient with a non-variant globally predominant strain. Each of the strains replicated similarly in the nose and lungs of hamsters and caused similar illness affecting the lungs.
Next, Kawaokas team looked at whether antibodies in convalescent sera from 35 recovered COVID-19 patients or from people whod received the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine could neutralize each of the three viral strains.
Following a natural infection or vaccination, the body produces antibodies that learn to recognize the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for binding to cells. Should people encounter the virus again, antibodies recognize the spike protein and subsequently fight off or limit the extent of infection.
Earlier studies have shown that a spike protein mutation E484K, found in gamma variants can change the spike proteins identity just enough that the variant can slip past these defenses. However, antibodies in the blood of vaccinated individuals reacted to all three strains, including gamma.
Antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients were also effective at neutralizing each of the strains. However, of the 35 patients, one had been infected with gamma and the antibodies from this individual were less reactive to the non-variant strains.
The researchers say these findings suggest there are some important differences in the spike protein of gamma that might influence immunity, warranting further monitoring. Additionally, Kawaokas group found that gamma, but not other strains of SARS-CoV-2, can infect and replicate in mice, suggesting that the spike protein interacts differently with cells than earlier strains.
The researchers also found that hamsters that had recovered from infection with either of the earlier strains of SARS-CoV-2 were protected against viral replication in their lungs if reinfected with either the same strain or the gamma variant, three weeks and nine months later.
However, gamma was recovered in the nasal passages of reinfected animals in both groups. The amount of virus in the nasal passages of reinfected animals was 1,000-fold lower than animals infected for the first time.
Finally, the researchers studied whether convalescent plasma from three patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in early 2020 could protect against viral replication in the nose and lungs of hamsters. They found that convalescent plasma, but not plasma from patients who did not have COVID-19, limited virus replication in the lungs of hamsters infected with the prevailing non-variant strain and with gamma/P.1. Virus was found in their nasal passages.
Vaccination, Kawaoka says, is the best way to seek protection from SARS-CoV-2 and emerging variants, including the delta variant, also known as B.1.617.2. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently designated the delta version as a variant of concern due to evidence that it transmits more readily.
Peter Halfmann, research associate professor at UWMadison and co-leader of the study, added that the gamma and delta variants are circulating in Madison and other parts of the U.S., highlighting the importance of vaccination.
The difference between the original strain and (delta) and the original strain and (gamma) is similar, Kawaoka adds, noting: The (delta) variant may become prevalent but it shouldnt be extremely concerning as long as you are vaccinated.
With SARS-CoV-2 changing as it spreads, some versions of the virus will disappear as new variants emerge, as happened with a European variant in early 2020 that quickly eclipsed the original virus first found in China.
At least in the vast majority of the population, we dont have good immunity to SARS-CoV-2, so the selective pressure on the virus at the moment is transmissibility, Kawaoka says, explaining why new variants that successfully spread tend to be more transmissible than those that came before. But it will change. We should expect to see the selective pressure become immunity.
This is why vaccines will likely need to be modified in the coming years, he explains, in order to protect against a virus that will evolve to evade the protections we devise so long as spread of the virus remains high, or if our immune systems dont maintain defenses for long enough to prevent reinfections.
We dont know which one is going to be the case its too early to say how long immunity to this virus lasts, he says. Hamsters look different from humans, anyway. Its difficult to predict.
Peter Halfmann, a research associate professor at UWMadison, and Masaki Imai in the Division of Virology at the University of Tokyo, co-led the study.
It was supported by a Research Program on Emerging andRe-emerging Infectious Diseases (JP19fk0108113, JP19fk0108166, JP20fk0108412, and JP21fk0108104;, a Project Promoting Support for Drug Discovery (JP20nk0101612, JP20nk0101614, and JP20nk0101603); the Japan Initiative for Global Research Network on Infectious Diseases (J-GRID) (JP19fm0108006); the Japan Program for Infectious Diseases Research and Infrastructure (JP20wm0125002 and 20fk0108272) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED); the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases funded Center for Research on Influenza Pathogenesis (CRIP; HHSN272201400008C); the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center (P51OD011106), and the Collaborative Influenza Vaccine Innovation Center (CIVIC; 75N93019C00051).
Coronavirus deaths reach 600,000 in the United States, a stark reminder of the pandemics enduring toll even as states edge toward normalcy. USA TODAY
In Minnesota, the HealthPartners system has seen a precipitous decline in COVID-19 hospitalizations, says Dr. Mark Sannes, an infectious disease physician and senior medical director for the system, which operates ninehospitals and more than 55 clinics. But now, nearly every admitted patient he does see is unvaccinated.
Less than 1% of our hospitalized COVID patients are vaccinated,"he said.
In Ohio, at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, only 2% of the COVID-19 patients admitted in the last month were vaccinated, said Dr. Robert Salata, the hospital's physician-in-chief.
And at Sanford Health, which runs 44 medical centers and more than 200 clinics across the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa, less than 5% of the 1,456 patientsadmitted with COVID-19 so far this yearwere fully vaccinated, said spokesperson Angela Dejene.
Falling rates of COVID-19 across the United States mask a harsh reality the overwhelming majority of those getting sick and being hospitalized today are unvaccinated, while vaccinated patients are becomingrare.
Hospitals in states with the lowest vaccination rates tend to have more COVID-19 patients in intensive care units, according to hospitaldatacollected in the past week by the Department of Health and Human Services and vaccination rates published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Wyoming, Missouri, Arkansas and Idaho currently have the highest percentage of COVID-19patients on average in their ICUs; those states all have vaccinated less than 40% of their population.
Medical centers say there'salso an obvious change in the age of their sickest patients, asolderpeople are much more likely to be vaccinated thanyounger.
"We're all seeing the same thing when someone does get sick and comes to the hospital, they're much more likely to be young and unvaccinated," said Dr. Robert Wachter,professor and chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Cathy Bennett, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association, said the picture is the same in her state.
"As COVID vaccinations rolled out across New Jersey, theres been a major shift in the ages of patients admitted to the hospital," said Bennett. "Unlike last spring, when those 65 and older accounted for the majority of hospitalizations, were now seeing more young people hospitalized with COVID."
In Ohio, Salata said the shift should be reassuring, showingthe vaccines work.
"It sends a very strong message to the hesitancy people out there because the data speaks for itself," he said.
Doctors say there are multiple reasons people aren'tyet vaccinated. There are the hesitant, who still have questions and sometimes fall prey to misinformation, andthe opposed, who often harbor anti-government or anti-science sentiments.
"We've had a little success when we've spoken to them on a one-to-one basis. We can give them the information that they need to make their decision,"saidDr. Gerald Maloney, chief medical officer for hospital services at Geisinger health network, which runs ninehospitals inPennsylvania.
Some still can't easily access vaccine, either because it's not available nearbyor because they can't get time off work.
And while the U.S. government paid for all vaccines and vaccinationsso no one should be charged, others remain fearful they will be on the financial hook for a shot, Maloney said.
Eleanor Leisenring speaks with Cheryl McHale, RN, after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at a Geisinger community vaccine center in Danville, Pa.(Photo: Geisinger)
Last week, Health and Human Services secretarySecretary Xavier Becerra clarified in a letter that providers may not bill patients for COVID-19 vaccines.
There's still a lot of work to be done to create the trust necessary for these groups to embrace vaccination, Maloney said.
"The people who say, 'It's my body, my choice?' Well, it's not all about you," he said."It's also about the people that you're around."
At this point, every vaccination is a win,one more person who can't pass the virus along. That's especially true in families where children can't be vaccinated and are still at risk.
At Akron Childrens Hospital in Ohio, we have not seen any kiddos who have been admitted to the hospital who have been vaccinated, said Dr. Michael Bigham, a pediatric intensivist in the critical care unit.
Among children 11 and younger, who cant yet get the vaccine, having vaccinated family members is keeping them out of the hospital, and protecting them against MIS-C, the multisystem inflammatory syndromethat can be a rare but dangerous aftereffect of a COVID-19 infection in children.
Most of the kids were seeing in the hospital with COVID or MIS-C had COVID in their household, maybe a parent or a grandparent, and most of those individuals had not been vaccinated, he said.
The message from health care workers is unanimous: They just aren't seeing many vaccinated people get sick.
In New Jersey, the percentage of COVID-19 hospitalizations among those ages 18 to 29 has increased 58%since the beginning of the year. By comparison, the percentage of COVID-19 hospitalizations among the 65 and older age group with a statewide vaccination rate of more than 80% declined by 31.2%.
The numbers are no coincidence, Bennett said.
"Vaccination," she said, "works in preventing severe COVID illness."
Nurses struggling to take vital signs. Anguished faces on iPad screens. A chaplain praying with a patient. These are the scenes playing out daily inside of a COVID-19 ICU. USA TODAY
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