WTOP is tracking vaccination rollout in the D.C. region. Washington, Virginia and Maryland are working to inoculate millions while dealing with an unprecedented demand and constricted supply of dosages.
Chart updated: March 3, 6:40 p.m.
WTOP is tracking vaccination rollout in the D.C. region. D.C., Virginia and Maryland are working to inoculate millions while dealing with an unprecedented demand and constricted supply of dosages.
In late 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began reporting coronavirus vaccination data for all 50 states, various U.S. territories and federal agencies. Updated every afternoon, their dataset includes the total number of doses each state has been provided and the number of doses that have actually been used. Comparing both numbers gives valuable insight into how much of a states vaccine stockpile has been deployed versus how much is still in storage.
WTOP will be updating these numbers once every evening, excluding federal holidays.
The federal government also provides statistics on the number of people per state who have received one or two doses of a vaccine. As of March 2021, two vaccines Pfizer and Moderna require two doses before a person can be considered fully inoculated. On Feb. 27, the FDA granted emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson for the first vaccine to only require a single dose.
Under state eligibility guidelines, Virginia, Maryland and D.C. residents age 65 or older, as well as frontline health care providers and some other workers considered essential, are currently authorized to take the vaccine a category which includes several million in the D.C. region alone. The number of doses the federal government provides to the states is well short of the total number of people who are eligible to receive them.
To guarantee that data definitions do not vary between the states and the numbers can be compared directly, WTOP.com is using the CDC as its source for daily vaccination statistics. State health agencies in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia are also releasing numbers on their own dashboards alongside COVID-19 test results, including demographics on vaccine distribution and county-by-county breakdowns which the CDC does not currently provide as part of its national dataset.
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Looking for more information? D.C., Maryland and Virginia are each releasing more data every day. Visit their official sites here:Virginia|Maryland|District of Columbia
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It is no surprise that four in five Americans (86 percent) reportedly take dietary supplements to improve their overall health. Now more than ever, health consciousness is at the forefront we are focused on improving our immune systems, specifically with an increased intake of readily accessible ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, and enzymes, collectively known as dietary supplements. In the 27 years since Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 ("DSHEA"), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has had the authority to regulate dietary supplements; and, the FDA plays an important role in helping consumers make use of safe, high-quality dietary supplements while also protecting Americans from the potential dangers of products that dont meet the agencys standards for marketing.
Prior to the pandemic, the dietary supplement market grew by several billion dollars, which has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand has been greatest for supplements such as zinc, elderberry, and vitamins B, C, and D, which have been shown to support immune function. Analysis of social media activity related to dietary supplements has shown increased chatter on the benefits, and a push championing the use of dietary supplements to prevent infection. However, unlike drugs, dietary supplements are not permitted to be marketed for the purpose of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing diseases. Since the onset of COVID-19 in December 2019, FDA has issued numerous warning letters to companies whose products were marketed as dietary supplements but were actually being illegally advertised as unapproved new drugs because the products boasted unproven claims to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19.
While there is limited current evidence to suggest this is the case, users should be aware that the FDA created a special emergency Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program (CTAP) for possible coronavirus therapies. As of January 31, 2021, more than 600 drugs have been under study as part of CTAP, and ClinicalTrials.gov lists over 140 clinical trials that are evaluating the effects of dietary supplements on COVID-19. To date, the FDA has not issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or new drug approval for the use of any dietary supplement to prevent, treat, cure or mitigate COVID-19.
Zinc (Zn), an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant micronutrient found in food, is essential for multiple cellular functions including maintenance of immune health. Pal et al. (2020) state that much of the current knowledge about the use of Zn as an antiviral therapy and immuno-modulatory agent has originated from studies done with other viral diseases. A previously described role of Zn ions and ionophores as potent inhibitors of various RNA viruses, like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is the rationale for using Zn. There were nearly two dozen clinical and observational studies of zinc and COVID-19 as of August 4, 2020, and 4 studies were exclusively using different combinations of dietary supplements including Zn as an intervention against COVID-19, but none of the four studies had been completed at the time of the review.
Vitamin C (i.e., ascorbic acid) is known to be a potent antioxidant; however, evidence does not support the routine use of vitamin C for prevention of viral infections, including the common cold. A shortening in duration of the common cold by 8% was suggested following meta-analyses of clinical trial data of regular vitamin C intake. But, Adams et al. (2020) state, It cannot be assumed, therefore, that outcomes of vitamin C from the management of the common cold will translate to the management of COVID-19.
Vitamin D3 is a fat soluble vitamin that, due to complex mechanisms, supports immune function, and contributes to the enhanced activity of our innate immunity. Observational data of low levels of vitamin D have been associated with acute respiratory viral infection. Studies from the Eastern Virginia Medical School noted that US patients with low levels of vitamin D were more likely to be hospitalized and had higher mortality rates after viral infection. Evaluation of patient data from more than 10,000 individuals from 25 clinical trials revealed that oral vitamin D3 supplementation reduced the risk of acute respiratory tract infections and underlies the speculation for use of vitamin D during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elderberry (i.e., Sambucus nigra) has been hypothesized to have antiviral properties; however, there are no published studies evaluating the use of elderberry and COVID-19. Adams et al. (2020) state, Although elderberry and it phenolic acid components exhibit antiviral activity against human corona virus HCoV-NL63 in vitro, this cannot be extrapolated to COVID-19.
As we readily await the efficacy and worldwide administration of the COVID-19 vaccines, dietary supplements may be beneficial to your overall health. The option to provide our bodies with optimal support along with following best practices of prevention seems a viable option to keep our bodys immune system functioning well through the current pandemic and beyond.
Adams, K.K., Baker, W.L., Sobieraj, D.M. Myth Busters: Dietary Supplements and COVID-19. Ann Pharmacother, 2020 Aug;54(8):820-826. doi: 10.1177/1060028020928052
Ansorge, Rick. Are Vitamins C and D Effective in the Fight Against COVID-19? UCHealth Today, 9. Dec. 2020. http://www.uchealth.org/today/effectiveness-of-vitamins-c-and-d-against-covid-19/
Cabotaje, Angela. Can Taking Vitamins Help Prevent COVID-19? Right as Rain by UW Medicine, 2. Dec. 2020. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/well/health/vitamin-covid-19-prevention
Evans, A., Santos, E., Ford, M. Impact of COVID-19 on Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements. L.E.K. Insights. 1. May. 2020. https://www.lek.com/insights/ei/impact-covid-19-vitamins-minerals-and-supplements#.X_YDR_sWFWc.mailto
Commissioners Statement, February 11, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/statement-fda-commissioner-scott-gottlieb-md-agencys-new-efforts-strengthen-regulation-dietary
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=Covid19&term=dietary+supplement&type=&rslt=&age_v=&gndr=&intr=&titles=&outc=&spons=&lead=&id=&cntry=&state=&city=&dist=&locn=&rsub=&strd_s=&strd_e=&prcd_s=&prcd_e=&sfpd_s=&sfpd_e=&rfpd_s=&rfpd_e=&lupd_s=&lupd_e=&sort=
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/covid_view
Lechowicz, K., Drozdzal, S., Machaj, F., COVID-19: The Potential Treatment of Pulmonary Fibrosis Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9. June. 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7356800/
Martineau, A.R., Jolliffe, D.A., Hooper, R.L., et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2017;356:i6583. doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6583
Pal, A., Squitti, R., Picozza, M., Pawar, A., Rongioletti, M., Dutta, A.K., Sahoo, S., Goswami, K., Sharma, P., Prasad, R. Zinc and COVID-19: Basis of Current Clinical Trials. Biol Trace Elem Res, 2020 Oct 22; 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02437-9
COVID-19 INFORMATION
Basic Disease Information
FAQs for Pet Owners
CDC Guidance Regarding Pets & COVID-19
Frequently Asked Questions - CDC
Informational Resources (posters, videos, etc.)
How to Prevent the Spread of Contagious Disease (pdf)
Spanish version (pdf)
Vietnamese version (pdf)
Mitigation Strategies for the Community
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
New Suicide Prevention Resource - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules to establish 988 as the new, nationwide, 3-digit phone number for Americans in crisis to connect with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors. Read the full FCC news release for details.
The American Red Cross has activated a Virtual Family Assistance Center for anyone who lost a loved one due to COVID-19.
211 Texas has activated a COVID-19 option within the 211 platform. 211 specialists across the state are available 24/7 to answer the most frequently asked questions. Visit www.211Texas.org.
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) has launched a statewide mental health support line to help Texans experiencing anxiety, stress, or other emotional challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This resource offers support for all Texans and can be reached any time day or night at 833-986-1919. More information on mental health resources and your local metal health authority can be found on HHSCs website.
The Counseling Institute of Texas is offering grants for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19. Call 972-271-4300 or visit their website for details.
Links to Additional Vaccine Hub Providers
Additional vaccine supplies can be found on vaccinefinder.org or contact your doctor and/or area pharmacies for additional options.
The Garland Health Department (GHD) is collecting names of persons to register for the COVID-19 vaccine waiting-list. Vaccination events will be scheduled as additional vaccine supply is received.
COVID-19 vaccine is still in very limited supply and being prioritized to Phase 1A health care workers and first responders and to adults who meet the Phase 1B criteria (65 and older, or those with underlying medical conditions).
To register for the vaccine with GHD at this time, you need to be:
The vaccine is free. COVID-19 vaccinations are voluntary, GHD strongly recommends all eligible persons register to receive the vaccine. Those receiving the COVID-19 vaccine will have the immunization noted on their official IMMTRAC vaccine record.
More COVID-19 vaccines will become available as manufacturing and distribution ramp up. Monitor the CitysTwitterandFacebookpages, as well as this page, for updates.
Using the online form is the fastest way to get on the list.Please assist family and friends without internet access in completing the form if you are able. Those who are unable to complete the online form can register over the phone by calling the City of Garlands COVID-19 Hotline at 972-205-3900, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The hotline is currently open seven days a week. Call volumes are anticipated to be high, exercise patience.
As we wait for additional COVID-19 vaccine shipments, we would like to remind you that each provider distributing the vaccine may approach the sign up process differently. You may register in multiple places. If you receive the vaccine through a different entity we ask that you send us an email, GPH@GarlandTX.gov so that we may remove you from our waiting list.
As of Feb. 1, 2021, GHD has only received and administered the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine consists of two doses. The second dose should be administered 28 days after the initial dose. However, second doses administered as early as 24 days after the initial dose are still considered valid. Per CDC recommendations, you have up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose to receive the second dose. With GHD, you do not need to re-register for the second dose. We will contact you with appointment information.
When you receive the vaccine please ensure the second dose is the same type. Please use the V-Safe Health Checker if you have a smart phone. Save the card provided at your first vaccination to keep track of which vaccine you received. GHD does not provide replacement cards.
While each of us awaits our vaccines, please remain patient. It is critical that everyone continue to practice personal protective measures to prevent disease spread until vaccines are widely distributed throughout our nation.
As the state attempts to increase its capacity to provide COVID-19 vaccine, the Texas Department of State Health Services has selected the City of Garland Health Department to serve as one of several vaccination hubs in Dallas County. As a hub, Garland will receive larger shipments in the future and be able to serve more people.
Here's a video to learn more about how our mass vaccination process works:
Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont Department of Health is reporting 115 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death for a statewide total of 207. The Department of Corrections is reporting a major outbreak at the prison in Newport, with 100 new cases for a total of 127 positive incarcerated cases and 10 positive staff cases at the facility. Meanwhile, the VA Medical Center will be holding a one-day only vaccine clinic for veterans of any age on Friday at the Essex Fairgrounds. The VDH separately has expanded its vaccination and testing sites. See information below.
March 3, 2021
New or updated information is in red and bold
This update is available online at healthvermont.gov/covid19
Click the See the Daily Update button
Vermonters age 65 and older can sign up to get vaccinated this Sunday March 7 at a large-scale vaccination event held by Kinney Drugs at Spaulding High School in Barre. About 1,100 doses of vaccine are anticipated to be available.
You must register for the event by visiting: https://kinneydrugs.as.me/BarrePopup.
If you have already made an appointment at another clinic but would like to get vaccinated sooner, you can still register for the Barre event but please CANCEL your original appointment in the system where you made it. Cancellations and unplanned no-shows could result in spoiled vaccine doses.
If you need to cancel your appointment, please do as soon as possible. If it was made on the Health Department website, youll need to log in to your account and cancel it there. If you have trouble canceling, call 855-722-7878.
The state is also partnering with the Vermont National Guard to administer vaccines. The first of these events was held today at the Doubletree Hotel in South Burlington and will continue through March 7. As many as 400 doses will be administered per day. Next week, the Guard efforts will expand to the Barre and Springfield areas.
These events will be open to eligible Vermonters by appointment. To schedule your appointment, visit healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine.
We also plan to activate an even larger contingent of the National Guard on March 15 to provide more vaccination opportunities as the supply increases later this month.
In addition, Walmart will start vaccinations this week at its six stores in Vermont. People will register for appointments at these new sites through the Health Department website and call center.
The department and all of state government greatly appreciates the support of the Vermont National Guard in protecting the health of Vermonters through vaccination.
The Missisquoi Valley Rescue is holding additional COVID-19 testing in response to the increase in COVID-19 cases seen across Franklin County. The tests are free and there is no registration.
Tests will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Hours for all locations and days are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In Stowe, testing will be held this weekend at Stowe High School, 413 Barrows Road.
Register online at healthvermont.gov/testing or walk-in.
Remember, knowing if you carry the virus means you can act to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from COVID-19. If you got together with anyone outside your household, think you might have been exposed to the virus, or have any symptoms (no matter how mild) get tested!
Visit healthvermont.gov/testing to find test sites throughout the state. Testing is free to all, and many sites now let you take your own sample using a short swab in your nose.
If youre a close contact of someone with COVID-19, you can use this timeline to help guide when to get tested.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your health care provider so they can refer you for testing. If you dont have a provider, you can call 2-1-1.
New on healthvermont.gov
One in 7 cases of COVID-19 are among Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC). Rates of COVID-19 are two times higher for BIPOC compared with white non-Hispanic residents. View our latest Weekly Data Summary Spotlight to learn more about the 1,742 Vermont resident cases who are Asian, African American or Black, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Hispanic or race other than white.
As of 12 p.m. on March 3, 2021
Data is updated daily.
Description
Number
New cases*
115
(15,487 total)
Currently hospitalized
23
Hospitalized in ICU
5
Hospitalized under investigation
1
Percent Positive (7-day average)
1.4%
People tested
332,411
Total tests
1,083,198
Total people recovered
12,842
Deaths+
207
Find more data on COVID-19 Activity at: healthvermont.gov/currentactivity.
As of 12 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2021
Data is updated Tuesdays through Saturdays.
Description
Number
Total people who have received least one dose of vaccine
107,750(19.5% of population)
Total people who have received two doses of vaccine (completed)
59,326
Find more vaccine data on the COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard: healthvermont.gov/covid19-vaccine-data.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard is updated Tuesdays through Saturdays.
The data in the dashboard includes the vaccines available in Vermont (currently, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). Data is based on date reported to the Vermont Immunization Registry and does not reflect date of vaccination. Informationreflects counts reported by the end of the previous day. Data is subject to change.
The data in the dashboard includes the vaccines available in Vermont (currently, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna)
If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs emotional support, help is available 24/7:
Call yourlocal mental health crisis line.
Text VT to 741741to talk with someone at theCrisis Text Line.
Call theNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can also get more information and resources:
Visit our Coping with Stress web page.
Get connected to Alcohol and Drug Support Services at VT Helplink.
Get self-help tips and connect to mental health services at COVID Support VT.
1: Who is currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
On Friday, February 26, 2021 Oregon Governor Kate Brown held a press conference with details on the timeline for the next eligible groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Oregonians age 65 and older are currently eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as of March 1. View OHA's sequencing timeline to see the current and next groups of people eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.
There is still far less vaccine available to meet the needs of everyone who is eligible and wants the vaccine. We thank you for your continued patience.
If you are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine schedule your appointment at one of the following locations.
Sign up online. You will be sent an invitation when an appointment is available to you. Names are selected at random each week from the eligible pool.
Educators use the OHA scheduling tool to schedule your appointment at the Convention Center.
These appointments are specifically for seniors with mobility needs, individuals with disabilities and their caregivers. If you know you are eligible for this site, you can schedule online (when appointments are available) via OHSU. New appointments are released Mondays and Thursdays at 9 a.m. (subject to change). If you aren't sure, use OHA's eligibility and scheduling tool.
Limited vaccination appointments are available for eligible individuals at some local pharmacies.
Pharmacies will screen for eligibility according to state guidelines. They have limited doses and appointments available each week. Go directly to their COVID vaccine websites to make an appointment:
We understand that many county residents do not want to go to Portland to receive their vaccines. Clackamas County Public Health is receiving very few doses locally each week and doing direct outreach to people we have identified will have a difficult time accessing the large vaccine clinics at the Convention Center and airport.
When more vaccine becomes available over the next several weeks, the county will host additional local vaccination clinics and promote them.
For those eligible and able to schedule appointments at the clinics at the Oregon Convention Center this will likely be the fastest option to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Please visit our website for more information.
Online:
211:
Free interpretation is available for all other languages. TTY: Dial 711 or call 1-866-698-6155. Please note: These are information lines, not vaccine scheduling.
Email:If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccination process in the tri-county area, please email your questions to covidvaccine@clackamas.us. We are experiencing a high volume of emails but we will try to answer your questions as soon as we can.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 81% of people with COVID-19 develop only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and a cough.
However, about 14% of all patients go on to develop breathing difficulties and low blood oxygen levels.
Approximately 5% become critically ill and may need treatment in an intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress and multiple organ failure.
Stay informed with live updates on the current COVID-19 outbreak and visit our coronavirus hub for more advice on prevention and treatment.
Previous research has implicated the following risk factors in the development of severe COVID-19:
However, it remains unclear why some people with severe illness recover while others become critically ill.
In a new study, researchers at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, CT, showed that levels of five protein biomarkers in the blood of COVID-19 patients in the hospital strongly predict who will become critically ill.
All five proteins play a role in the activation of another type of immune cell, known as a neutrophil.
If a diagnostic test [for these biomarkers] could be ordered early, it could give us a better sense of who is more likely to become critically ill and will benefit from a higher level of care and consideration for therapies that affect the immune system early on in their hospitalization, says lead author Dr. Hyung Chun, M.D., associate professor of cardiovascular medicine and pathology and director of translational research at the Yale Pulmonary Vascular Disease Program.
Many of these drugs do carry potential side effects, and these tests may help identify those patients who would benefit the most, he adds.
The study paper appears in the journal Blood Advances.
The researchers used proteomic profiling to screen proteins in blood samples from 85 participants, including 13 asymptomatic controls. At least 23 of these individuals gave a blood sample on their first day of hospitalization with COVID-19.
Some of the participants went on to require treatment in the intensive care unit, whereas others did not.
The researchers used a machine-learning algorithm to identify five proteins that were the best predictors of who would become critically ill.
These protein biomarkers were better predictors of critical illness than some cytokines linked to severe COVID-19, say the scientists.
They were also good predictors of mortality. None of the individuals with low levels of these biomarkers died.
All five proteins are associated with the activation of neutrophils, which start life in the bone marrow before entering the bloodstream.
To confirm the importance of these immune cells for predicting worse outcomes in COVID-19, the researchers also analyzed blood test results from more than 3,000 people who were admitted to the Yale New Haven Hospital system.
This analysis revealed that people who had elevated neutrophil counts shortly after their admission to the hospital were more likely to die from the disease.
The authors write:
This signature of neutrophil activation was predictive of in-hospital mortality and, most compellingly, was elevated at the time of hospital admission in patients who only later progressed to critical illness, thus preceding and predicting the onset of critical illness.
Neutrophils are the immune systems first responders at the site of infection and injury, but they can also cause collateral damage through excessive inflammation.
Previous research has linked some of the protein biomarkers that the new study identified to obesity.
According to the CDC, having obesity triples a persons risk of hospitalization with COVID-19, and body mass index (BMI) positively correlates with mortality from the disease.
The researchers note that while obesity involves chronic, low grade inflammation, COVID-19 causes hyperinflammation that can lead to tissue damage and organ failure.
There is also evidence, the researchers note, that neutrophils may play a role in the excessive thrombosis, or blood clotting, that doctors see in critically ill patients with the disease.
The authors write that one limitation of their study was that it did not demonstrate that neutrophils are the source of the five protein biomarkers.
However, they add that there are several other lines of evidence to support this hypothesis.
For example, four of the proteins are well-established products of neutrophils. In addition, the new study found that levels of each of the five proteins correlated closely with the concentration of neutrophils in the participants bloodstreams.
For live updates on the latest developments regarding the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, click here.
The decision to rollback measures is "inexplicable," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
"I understand the need to want to get back to normality, but you're only going to set yourself back if you just completely push aside the public health guidelines -- particularly when we're dealing with anywhere from 55 to 70,000 infections per day in the United States," Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN's Erin Burnett.
The governors of Texas and Mississippi said Tuesday they were lifting mandates and allowing businesses to operate at full capacity, announcements that came in the midst of health experts warning that the spread of more transmissible variants risks sending infection rates soaring once again.
Researchers the Centre for Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine published evidence Wednesday that a person with that variant can infect 43-90% more people than the older versions of the virus.
In a statement, the Infectious Diseases Society of America said the US must continue to use masks, social distancing, hand washing and the avoidance of large gatherings.
"We can't forget the lessons this pandemic has taught us, or its terrible toll, and we must not relinquish the ground we've gained," said Dr. Barbara Alexander, the president of ISDA.
States dropping mandates and expanding business capacity
"It is clear from the recoveries, the vaccinations, the reduced hospitalizations, and the safe practices that Texans are using, that state mandates are no longer needed. We must now do more to restore livelihoods and normalcy for Texans," Abbott's Press Secretary Renae Eze told CNN in a statement.
In Houston, the chief of staff of the United Memorial Medical Center said he told his staff to prepare for surges in patients because of the changes.
"If we open the state on the 10th, I'm telling you, before the end of March, we're going to have problems," Dr. Joseph Varon told CNN's "New Day" on Wednesday.
In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves said starting Wednesday the state would lift its county mask mandates and allow businesses to operate at full capacity.
Mayors of some cities, including Jackson and Greenville, said they will keep enforcing citywide mask mandates.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also announced revisions to public health orders Tuesday, including dropping a 300-person limit for events at banquet centers. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer unveiled a series of eased restrictions taking effect Friday, including expanded capacity for restaurants, retail, gyms, stadiums and other facilities.
And in Louisiana, the majority of businesses -- including restaurants and salons -- will be allowed to operate at 75% capacity starting Wednesday, while religious services will no longer have capacity limits, the governor said.
Health expert encourage public to accept Johnson & Johnson vaccine
A third vaccine entered the US market this week after the US Food and Drug Administration gave emergency use authorization to Johnson & Johnson's vaccine.
Health experts are excited about the new option, which they say is safe and effective as well as easily distributed due to its single-dose model and ability to be stored at normal refrigeration temperatures.
But some with the option to receive it have expressed hesitancy.
"My big concern here is that the Johnson & Johnson is being labeled as the inferior vaccine," said Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst and former Baltimore public health commissioner, "when that's not a fair assessment to make."
With limitations on distribution and the race to vaccinate Americans before another surge, some people may get to choose their vaccine, while others may not, officials have said.
That is the right choice for the current emergency, a team of bioethicists wrote in a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"In most aspects of US health care, patient preferences are paramount, and currently Americans remain free to decline vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. But among the willing, a policy limiting choice among vaccines will bring efficiencies to the fair distribution of a critically scarce resource," they concluded.
High school students likely to be vaccinated in the fall
J&J has set its sights on exceeding its target of 100 million doses by the end of June, CEO Alex Gorsky said.
And experts have estimated that vaccines will be available to all US adults by May, but the question of when children can be vaccinated isn't clear.
"Right now, we project that the clinical trials will give us information that by the time we get to the fall, high school students will be able to be vaccinated," Fauci said Wednesday. "I'm not sure if it's going to be by the first day of school, but sometime in the fall."
Their younger siblings will have to hold out a little bit longer, he explained, during a livestreamed town hall event with members of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.
"The way the program is now scheduled, children who are elementary school, 6 to 12, that group of individuals ... those individuals will not be able to be vaccinated until their trials are finished, which will likely be at the earliest, the end of this year," Fauci said. "More likely the first quarter of 2022."
CNN's Lauren Mascarenhas, Maggie Fox, Jen Christensen, Amanda Sealy, Ryan Prior, Jason Hanna, Christina Maxouris and Rebekah Riess contributed to this report.
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Alaska on Wednesday announced a major expansion of its list of those eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. It now includes Alaskans 55 and older, as well as people over 16 who are essential workers, live in multigenerational homes, are considered potentially high-risk for severe illness or live in a community where homes lack water and sewer systems.
The newly eligible group can now sign up for a vaccine appointment, health department officials said in a statement Wednesday morning.
While vaccine supply remains limited, we are offering it to groups who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, who are at risk for severe illness or death or who work in essential jobs, the states chief medical officer, Dr. Anne Zink, said in a statement.
The state this month is expecting 103,120 first doses of the vaccine from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna, which includes allocations for the Indian Health Service and a supplemental February allotment, officials said.
Additionally, Alaska is set to receive 8,900 doses of the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered with a single shot over the next two weeks, officials said.
Expanding the vaccine eligibility to reach more people is significant in protecting Alaskans and in getting Alaska reopened and our economy back up and thriving, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in the statement.
Those already eligible for a vaccine include most health care workers, people age 65 and older, people living and working in congregate settings, some pandemic responders and people age 50 and older who have a high-risk medical condition or work in an essential job.
Health officials said in the statement that the new group of eligible Alaskans includes anyone who has a medical condition that places a person at high-risk or might be high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19, according to the CDC, or who is considered high-risk by a persons medical provider.
Based on the lists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women, smokers, people diagnosed with cancer, individuals with moderate to severe asthma, obese and overweight individuals and those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes among a range of other medical conditions are now eligible for the vaccine.
A persons provider can also recommend someone get vaccinated, Zink told reporters Wednesday, which means someone with a substance-use disorder or intellectual disabilities that might put them at risk for a COVID-19 infection may be eligible.
Essential workers over age 16 are defined by a wide-ranging list from the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and are included in the new eligibility group. That means not only frontline workers, but any essential workers, Zink said.
The federal essential worker list is broad, and it includes workers in law enforcement, food service, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, repair and maintenance, transportation and communications, along with workers who provide personal and household goods. That list also extends to clergy, weather forecasters and those working within the judicial system, among many others.
Newly eligible are people living in multigenerational households, including households with three or more generations or skipped generations, such as a grandchild living with an elder, officials said in the statement.
Unserved communities are defined as places where many homes do not have water and sewer systems, health officials said.
Additionally, in Anchorage, Alaskans 40 and older can now get vaccinated through Southcentral Foundation, the health care organization announced Monday. Southcentral Foundation is an Alaska Native-owned health care organization, which means it receives its allotment from the Indian Health Service and can decide vaccine eligibility separate from the states tiers.
Officials urged those eligible to regularly check for appointments as more will be added.
The following is information about the City of San Joss response to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support our most at-risk communities.
SOURCE: City of San JosEmergency Operations Center
Contact:Carolina Camarena/Colin Heyne, City of San Jos Media Line: 408-535-7777 City of San Jos Customer Contact Center: 3-1-1 or 408-535-3500
Email: News/Media: EOC_PIO@sanjoseca.govResidents: 311@sanjoseca.govBusinesses: covid19sjbusiness@sanjoseca.govNon-Profits: covid19sjcbo@sanjoseca.gov
Restrictions Lift as San Jos, Santa Clara County Return to the Red Tier: Reductions in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths allow Santa Clara County businesses to return to the Red Tier beginning March 3, 2021. Businesses and activities listed below are now allowed to resume in compliance with the States framework for the Red Tier and the County's Risk Reduction Order. Businesses must have an updated Social Distancing Protocol on file and displayed, as well as posted and enforced capacity limits. For specific categories of business and social distancing protocols, visit the Santa Clara County COVID-19 guidance pages:
Although more activities are allowed under the Red Tier, the County Health Officer urges everyone to remember that indoor activities are much higher risk than outdoor activities and to take every step to reduce your risk as much as possible. To keep yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors, and our broader community safe, continue to stay masked, maintain at least a 6-foot distance from others, avoid crowds, and get vaccinated when it is your turn.
City Manager Update to Council: City Manager Dave Sykes presented an update to the City Council during Item 3.1 yesterday, March 2 regarding the Citys response to COVID-19. Dave and officials from the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) provided updates on the EOC, Intergovernmental Relations, and Communications regarding the Citys COVID-19 response. The full City Council meeting can be watched on the Citys YouTube Channel.
Updates on City of San Jos Services and/or Operations
COVID-19 Vaccine, Testing, Tracing, and Support Services
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www.sanjoseca.gov
A persons risk for COVID-19 is not related to race, ethnicity or culture. City employees must abide by the Discrimination and Harassment policy, and treat colleagues and members of the public with courtesy and respect. Discrimination and/or Harassment of any kind is a violation of the policies and will not be tolerated.
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