In a study posted on Sunday that is yet to be peer-reviewed, researchers have reported seven new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the US. Researchers are tracking virus variants since some of them might be more deadly than the original virus, they may be more easily transmissible and can have repercussions on the effectiveness of vaccines.
B.1.1.7: This variant emerged in the UK and may be associated with an increased risk of death compared with other variants, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.
B.1.351: This variant emerged independently from the UK variant and was first identified in South Africa. It was also reported in the US by the end of January 2021.
P.1: This variant emerged in Brazil and is known to have 17 unique mutations. Three of them are in the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein (the spike protein, which protrudes from the surface of the virus is one of the key reasons that SARS-CoV-2 has been able to spread so rapidly and therefore, any mutations that affect the spike protein are important to understand).
The authors of the recent study say that in areas where the prevalence of the virus is high, selection pressures might have favoured the emergence of variants that evade neutralising antibodies (the proteins that prevent the virus from infecting once it is inside the body). The seven new lineages noted by the researchers have all evolved a mutation in the same genetic letter, which affects the way the virus enters the human cells. But it is not yet clear if this mutation makes these new variants more contagious and more dangerous.
Further, there are likely more variants of the virus across the world, but only genome sequencing can help determine that, which is not happening sufficiently at the moment. In a document published in late December 2020, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare outlined some steps it will take to increase and expand genome sequencing of the virus. One of the steps outlined includes sending five per cent of the positive samples to ten regional genome sequencing labs spread across the country.
Evolution helps organisms to change in response to certain changes in the environment. The goal here is to help the organism adapt so it can survive. In the Naked Ape trilogy, zoologist Desmond Morris writes about how humans have adapted to their changing environment over the course of millions of years of evolution. For instance, he considers the effects of urban city life on humans. Morris argues that despite city life being lonely and more stressful, people flock to them because a city, acts as a giant stimulus-centre where our great inventiveness can flourish and develop.
Since viruses can only replicate within a host cell, their evolution is influenced by their hosts. This means that the virus will mutate in order to evade the defenses that its hosts put up for it.
The book, Medical Microbiology says that as compared to DNA viruses, RNA viruses (SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus) have much higher mutation rates, probably one mutation per genome copy. Mutations might be deleterious, neutral and occasionally, they may be favourable. The book notes that only those mutations that do not interfere with the essential virus functions can persist in a given population.
An article in Nature says that compared to the HIV virus that causes AIDS, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is changing much more slowly as it spreads.
But like humans influence the evolution in viruses, viruses too, have shaped the way humans have evolved. In a 2016 study published in the journal eLife, the authors note that the constant battle between pathogens and their human hosts has long been recognised as a key driver of evolution. In this study, the authors note that about 30 per cent of all protein (proteins help cells to perform their functions) adaptations in humans since their divergence from chimpanzees have been driven by viruses. Significantly, during epidemics or pandemics, the population targeted by a virus will either go extinct, or it will adapt.
Once a virus has entered the body of its host, in order to infect the host it starts replicating, which means making copies of its entire genetic sequence. But every once in a while, the virus makes mistakes during replication. A blog entry on the website of Harvard University, explains that these mistakes, typically a change in a single letter (each coronavirus has about 30,000 RNA letters) among the thousands in the viruss sequence, might change the properties of the viruss proteins and therefore, change its capabilities. This change is called a mutation and if it is a favourable mutation, it can give the virus a new ability that promotes its reproduction, which helps the virus to become more widespread over generations.
It is likely that such kinds of favourable mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 virus are giving rise to emerging variants. For instance, the UK variant is known to be about 25-40 per cent more infectious than the original virus.
In a comment in the journal Nature, two immunologists, Dennis Burton and Eric Topol have called for an alternative approach to pandemic preparedness. In this approach, resources should be spent on developing pan-virus vaccines that can provide immunisation against multiple strains of a virus.
This is necessary in the context of SARS-CoV-2, since it is already evolving and initial evidence shows that some of its strains are more easily transmissible, implying that as more variants of the virus emerge, vaccines that already exist could be less effective against them.
While there are hundreds of coronaviruses that are known to infect animals such as pigs, camels, bats and cats, till date, seven types of coronaviruses have been identified to infect humans. In humans, the viruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses such as the common cold. In the last two decades, however, more aggressive coronaviruses have emerged that are capable of causing serious illness and even death in humans. These include SARS-CoV, MERS and now SARS-CoV-2.
The first coronavirus was found to infect humans in 1965, when scientists DJ Tyrrell and ML Bynoe isolated a strain of the virus called B814 from the nasal washing of a male child who had symptoms of common cold.
Vaccine development for the first four human coronaviruses, which include HCoV-229E (one of the first strains to be described in the mid-1960s), HCoV-OC43 (discovered between mid-late 1960s), HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-HKU1 (NL63 and HKU1 both discovered in Hong Kong in early 2005) was not a priority since these cause only mild illness. It was only two decades ago when SARS-CoV was emerging in China around 2003 that the need to develop a vaccine was felt since it was the first example of a human coronavirus that could cause serious illness.
Writing in the Journal of Biomedical Science, authors note that while various forms of vaccines have been developed and tested in preclinical models for SARS and MERS, none of them have been approved by the FDA.
The answer potentially lies in the spike protein of the virus, a number of which protrude from the surface of the virus forming a crown, which gives the virus its name. The spike protein makes it easier for the virus to bind with the ACE2 receptor (both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 bind to this receptor) in human cells, after which the virus starts infecting its host. But this spike protein, which makes transmission easier, is also one reason that vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 have been developed at a faster pace compared to the previous two human coronaviruses SARS and MERS, for which an approved vaccine still does not exist.
In particular, vaccine design for SARS-CoV-2 has been made faster because the spike protein offers a larger area for the vaccine to target, making it easier for it to trigger the bodys immune system into making neutralising antibodies, the proteins that prevent the spike protein from binding with the receptor and initiating infection.
BorisJohnson has promised there will be no return to lockdown after England emerges from the current round of restrictions, declaring that next weeks roadmap to recovery will set out cautious but irreversible steps back to normal life.
But the prime minister resisted Conservative backbench calls for firm deadlines to reopen shops, pubs and restaurants, saying that the 22 February document will offer only dates for the earliest possible relaxation of controls.
Urging Britons to be optimistic but also patient, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference: I hope there isnt that much longer to go now... I want this lockdown to be the last.
On a visit to a vaccination centre in southeast London earlier in the day, the PM sent clear signals that easing of restrictions will be slower than demanded by backbench critics, in the hope of avoiding a damaging return to lockdown.
He is coming under growing pressure from backbench Tories to restart the economy, with the Covid Recovery Group saying there will be no justification for unnecessary restrictions after over-50s get the jab in April.
But he insisted: Weve got to be very prudent. What we want to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible and I think thats what the public and people up and down the country will want to see.
The prime minister confirmed his 8 March target for reopening schools and said he was increasingly confident and optimistic about the possibility for lifting other restrictions even suggesting that rapid-turnaround tests could be used to allow the return of nightclubs and theatres.
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He hailed the completion of the first phase of vaccinations, covering over-70s, health and care workers and people with serious health conditions, as an unprecedented national achievement and said that 1 million over-65s were now receiving their invitations for a jab.
But he admitted he could offer no cast-iron guarantees that there would not be further setbacks, and said he wont hesitate to delay easements if infection rates rise.
NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the end of April had been set as the target to vaccinate the top nine priority groups, including all over-50s, but added that if vaccine supplies increase we think we can go faster.
Estimating that the next 10-11 weeks could see double the number of jabs as in the last 10-11 weeks including many second doses for those in the first wave of vaccinations he told the prime minister: Give us the tools the vaccines and we will finish the job.
Top medics and scientists will now be involved with senior ministers including Mr Johnson, health secretary Matt Hancock, chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove in a series of meetings over the coming days to thrash out Mondays blueprint for recovery.
Sources within government insisted that vital data on the effect of the vaccines on hospitalisations, deaths and transmission of the virus were still coming in, and stressed that no final decisions have been made. A final decision on the way forward could come as late as the weekend.
Mr Johnson himself said that reports suggesting that social contact curbs could be relaxed next month, shops reopened within weeks and self-catering holidays permitted by Easter should be taken with a pinch of salt.
When I explain what we are going to do, you will hear it directly from me, he promised.
The PMs promise of an irreversible move away from restrictions sparked alarm among public health experts, who warned that Covid-19 could still flare up even if over-50s are vaccinated as planned.
Latest data showed that the 9,765 postive tests reported on Monday remain higher than in September, while more people are in hospital than at the peak of the first wave last April. Some 230 deaths were reported on Monday, with the seven-day total down more than 26 per cent on the previous week.
Public health professor Gabriel Scally, of Bristol University, told The Independent that the UK remains far from the nirvana of being able to relax its guard.
Opening up retail and hospitality risked a spike in transmission among non-vaccinated groups, increasing the likelihood of dangerous new variants emerging, he warned, pointing to reports of seven worrisome mutations detected in the US in recent days.
A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street
Photos Angela Christofilou
Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread
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An empty street in the heart of Chinatown
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People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown
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A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown
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Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance
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A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus
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Making sure I stay two-meters apart DArblay Street, Soho
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A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice
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A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden
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As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street
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A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area
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Communities have been coming together in a time of need
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A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day
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A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced
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During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown
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Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time
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Stay Safe Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures
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Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown
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There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops
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Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day
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Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up
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Empty streets around Soho
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A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home
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Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet
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Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak
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Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced
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A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road
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A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub
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And while older age-groups may be protected from serious illness and death, younger people still risk being struck down by long Covid.
OK, numbers of cases are coming down, but we were up at the top of Everest and it is a long way down, said Prof Scally. We are still in a really dangerous situation and yet again they are talking about opening up.
When the prime minister says irreversible, why would anyone believe him, given his appalling track record on foreseeing the development of the pandemic so far?
Rather than talking about dates for reopening, ministers should be ramping up the test and trace system and providing better support for those told to isolate, as well as funding extra space to allow better distancing and ventilation in schools, he said.
Former minister Harriett Baldwin told The Independent that data on vaccine effectiveness appeared to show it outstripping expectations.
The PM is right to take into account the best information from the scientists, but this is all going to schedule, so we could be able to lift everything by 1 May if things continue at this cracking pace, she said. We are keen to give the economy the best shot in the arm it can have, which is to have certainty about dates.
Mr Johnson again ruled out the issuing of vaccine passports for domestic use, but said that documentation to allow international travel was very much in the mix down the road, adding: I think that is going to happen.
The travel industry called for work on the scheme to be stepped up to allow it to be operational by the summer holiday season.
Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel agents trade body Abta, said: The current restrictions have not only stopped travel but have dented peoples confidence in booking.
We believe that there should be a plan for the starting up of travel again and the government needs to be working on that now, not waiting till the summer. Were confident that if thats put in place then people will be able to travel and they can book now for summer holidays.
Where is it being manufactured?
While there are some doses coming from Europe in the very first instance, the majority will be provided from the UK supply chain.
In an exclusive report on Jan 16, The Telegraph shared plans for a new 158m super-factory, which would produce 70m doses of an emergency vaccine on British soil- enough to vaccinate the entire nation against new coronavirus strains within four months. The factory will open later this year.
The MHRA has recommended the over-18s should receive two doses to be administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks.
The Government announced on Dec 30 that it was delaying the second dose of every vaccine in order to reach as many people as possible in the first round of vaccinations.
Both the Oxford vaccine and the Pfizer/BioNTech jabwill be given to people as one shot, followed by another up to 12 weeks later, in order to extend some protection to as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
This is not without controversy, however.
The government's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says unpublished data suggests the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is still effective with doses 12 weeks apart - but Pfizer has said it has tested its vaccine's efficacy only when the two doses were given up to 21 days apart.
The World Health Organization has recommended a gap of four weeks between doses - to be extended only in exceptional circumstances to six weeks.
In a further bid to accelerate vaccination, Boris Johnson has announced that 24-hour vaccine centres will be opened "as soon as we can, with the the head of NHS England confirming on Jan 17 that several hospitals will trial 24/7 vaccine centres within the next ten days.
Matt Hancock, however, told BBC Breakfast a 24/7 approach was unlikely to be "the major factor" in hitting the mid-February target, but he was"absolutely" behind it "if it helps speed things up".
Sources in Whitehall have said that plans are in place to pilot a 24-hour vaccination centre to test demand. This comes as manufacturing companies have told ministers that they will not yet be able to produce enough vaccines should 24-hour roll out be introduced across the country.
Supplying vaccinations overnight will speed up the rollout, and allow the Government to reach their goal of vaccinating 32 million people- 60 per cent of the UK adult population by Spring-which was announced on Jan 11.
There have been concerns that a Covid-19 vaccine will not work as well on elderly people, much like the annual flu jab.
However, data from the Oxford/AstraZeneca trial suggests there have been "similar" immune responses among younger and older adults.
The results show that the vaccine is better tolerated in older people compared with younger adults, and produces a similar immune response in old and young adults.
Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers have now been given the green light to take either the Oxford and Pfizercoronavirus vaccines following an appropriate case-by-case risk evaluation with their healthcare practitioner.
This is a reversal of previous advice which was put in place as precautionary measure.
Traditionally pregnant women are not included in clinical trials, but following a review the MHRA are recommending pregnant women be given the opportunity to receive the vaccine as as there is no evidence they would be at risk.
Dr June Raine, chief executive of the MHRA, said: "Our advice to date has been that given that in initial lack of evidence on a precautionary basis, use of a vaccine wasn't recommended in pregnancy and women with breastfeeding should not be given the vaccine.
"But now that we have reviewed further data that has become available, the Commission on Human medicines has advised that the vaccine can be considered for use in pregnancy when the potential benefits outweigh the risks following an individual discussion with every woman."
The rollout of the Pfizer vaccine was temporarily halted forthose who are known to suffer from severe allergic reactionsfollowing a handful of adverse events in the initial distribution of the vaccine.
There were some concerns that this would also apply to the Oxford jab.
However, following a review,the UK regulatory body has recommended both the Pfizer and Oxford vaccine are safe to administer to those with food or medicine allergies.
Only those who have a known history of reacting to vaccines in the past should proceed with caution.
Sir Munir Pirmohamed, clinical pharmacologist and geneticist, and chairmanof Commission on Human Medicine Expert Working Group, said. "We've come to the recommendation people with a known history of reacting to any specific ingredients of vaccine should not have it. But people with allergies to other medicines or food can have the vaccine."
Dr June Raine added that "at least 800,000 in the UK, probably a million and a half in the US" have already received the Pfizer vaccine.
There has been"no additional concerns and this gives us further assurance that the risk of anaphylaxis can be managed through standard clinical guidance and an observation period following vaccination of at least 15 minutes.
Read more:The priority list for the Oxford and Pfizer vaccines - and how they will be rolled out
DETROIT The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Michigan has risen to 575,489 as of Monday, including 15,158 deaths, state officials report.
Mondays update includes 1,265 new cases and eight additional deaths over the past two days. On Saturday, the state reported a total of 574,224 cases and 15,150 deaths.
The states moving 7-day average of cases is 867 as of Monday, its lowest point since October. COVID hospitalizations also are trending lower in Michigan with just 1.69% of active cases hospitalized as of Friday, Feb. 12.
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Michigan now has about 42,200 active cases of COVID-19 statewide.
Michigan COVID-19 vaccinations: How to find appointments, info on phases
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VIEW: Tracking Michigan COVID-19 vaccine doses
VIEW: Tracking coronavirus cases, outbreaks in Michigan schools
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As a result of an unexpected supply shortage Beaumont Health is canceling 1,884 second dose appointments scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 18.
According to Beaumont Health, it was notified about the significant reduction in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine allocation from the State of Michigan on Friday.
The health system is working to automatically reschedule all canceled appointments to one week later at the same time and on the same day of the week, as long as the state supplies enough vaccine. Beaumont is also seeking more clarity from the state on these much needed second doses, a statement from Beaumont Health read.
Read more here.
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Michigan didnt receive the amount of COVID vaccines expected from the federal government, leading the state to take some of the first-dose allocation and shift it to those already scheduled for their second dose.
The decision means that some people who have a first-dose appointment set for next week may be delayed.
MDHHS with assistance from MING queried local health departments and hospitals regarding need for second dose vaccines. We are addressing any shortages in second doses in the orders we are placing for shipment next week. About 37,300 doses from the first dose allocation will need to be used to ensure complete vaccination for individuals who are due a second dose, said Lynn Sutfin with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
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Meijer is launching a series of COVID-19 vaccination clinics at stores across Michigan this week, with plans to administer up to 25,000 doses in its first week.
Meijer says the vaccines will be administered to Michiganders 65 years and older who have pre-registered through the companys vaccine registration process.
During the last few weeks, Meijer says it has conducted vaccine clinics in numerous counties throughout the state, administering up to 1,200 vaccines in a single day at some stores. Since its first clinic on Jan. 15, the retailer has administered more than 20,000 doses in Michigan and more than 30,000 doses overall, primarily to seniors 65 and older.
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Health officials say a confirmed case of a highly contagious COVID-19 variant, known as B117, was reported in Kent County on Sunday, Feb. 7.
As of Feb. 5, a total of 28 known cases of the variant have been identified in Michigan over the last month, but the cases have only been reported in Washtenaw and Wayne counties.
The new case reported on the opposite side of the state Sunday appears to confirm health officials belief that more cases of the virus variant likely exist in Michigan, they just have not been identified yet.
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Read the full report here.
Health official say Michigans most important COVID-19 numbers are once again trending in the right direction.
Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the states chief medical executive, said Michigans case rate is down to 159 cases per million population. That number has been declining steadily over the past 24 days.
The Detroit, Traverse City and Upper Peninsula regions all have case rates below 150 cases per million people, according to Khaldun.
Learn more here.
Michigan youth contact sports will be allowed to resume practices and games starting on Monday (Feb. 8), with certain COVID-19 safety rules in place, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
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Today, MDHHS is issuing an epidemic order to allow in-person practice and competitions for sports leagues, starting on Monday, Feb. 8, Whitmer said. I know these past months have been tough on all of us, and I know theyve been really hard on student-athletes whove been missing a sense of connection and belonging, as well as many other attributes that playing sports provides.
Under the previous Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order, basketball, hockey, wrestling, competitive cheer and youth leagues were shut down at least through Feb. 21.
Read more here.
Restaurants have been the most hotly debated topic of Michigans shutdowns throughout the COVID pandemic.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have twice shut down indoor dining, with the most recent ban ending Monday (Feb. 1).
Heres a look at how restaurants have been handled throughout the pandemic.
Michigan restaurants will officially be allowed to resume indoor dining Feb. 1 with a curfew and other COVID-19 safety restrictions in place.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released its next COVID-19 order Friday. The revised restrictions go into effect Feb. 1 and last three weeks, until Feb. 21.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the order will allow indoor dining at restaurants, concessions at entertainment venues such as casinos, movie theaters and stadiums, personal services requiring mask removal and non-residential gatherings of up to 10 people from two households.
The pause has worked, Whitmer said. The efforts we have made together to protect our families, frontline workers and hospitals have dramatically reduced cases and we have saved lives. Now, we are confident that starting Feb. 1, restaurants can resume indoor dining with safety measures in place.
We are pleased to see the improvements in case rates, hospitalizations and percent positivity that have allowed us to reopen more activities, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health at MDHHS. However, we must remain vigilant, especially since we now have a new more easily transmitted variant of this virus present in our state.
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Michigan has released a preliminary timeline to show a projection of when other phases can expect to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
Michigan recently moved into the 1B phase, which includes essential workers like teachers and opens up appointments for residents over the age of 65. Some counties have started vaccinating at this level, while some are still waiting to increase vaccine supply.
The preliminary timeline is fluid. It states very clearly, Dates are estimated and expected to change based on vaccine availability. And vaccine availability is limited right now -- but it should be improving in the near future.
See the timeline here.
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Michigan is moving on to a new phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, including teachers, first responders, childcare providers and residents 65 years of age and older.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday that the new phase of vaccinations will begin Monday, Jan. 11.
We are pleased to move the state forward in the next stage of vaccinations, said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive for MDHHS. These vaccines are safe and effective, and we especially want our first responders, teachers and older adults to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The strategy we are announcing today is efficient, effective, and equitable, focusing on making vaccine available to those who have the highest level of risk, whether it is because of where they work or because of their age.
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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is strongly encouraging Michigan public schools to reopen for in-person learning by the beginning of March.
Public schools in Michigan were shut down during the fall due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. Their buildings have been closed for about two months -- since the state reported thousands of COVID-19 cases per day in November.
The value of in-person learning for our kids is immeasurable, and we must do everything we can to help them get a great education safely, Whitmer said. Over the last 10 months, medical experts and epidemiologists have closely followed the data and have learned that schools can establish a low risk of transmission by ensuring that everyone wears a mask and adopting careful infection prevention protocols.
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I strongly encourage districts to provide as much face-to-face learning as possible, and my administration will work closely with them to get it done.
Read more here.
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported cases since Jan. 15:
Jan. 15 -- 2,598 new cases
Jan. 16 -- 1,932 new cases
Jan. 17 -- 1,421 new cases
Jan. 18 -- 1,422 new cases
Jan. 19 -- 1,738 new cases
Jan. 20 -- 2,031 new cases
Jan. 21 -- 2,165 new cases
Jan. 22 -- 2,157 new cases
Jan. 23 -- 1,601 new cases
Jan. 25 -- 3,011 new cases (case count for two days)
Jan. 26 -- 1,476 new cases
Jan. 27 -- 1,681 new cases
Jan. 28 -- 1,872 new cases
Jan. 29 -- 1,774 new cases
Jan. 30 -- 1,358 new cases
Jan. 31 -- 1,033 new cases
Feb. 1 -- 1,033 new cases
Feb. 2 -- 1,203 new cases
Feb. 3 -- 1,383 new cases
Feb. 4 -- 1,358 new cases
Feb. 5 -- 1,379 new cases
Feb. 6 -- 1,018 new cases
Feb. 7 -- 884 new cases
Feb. 8 -- 885 new cases
Feb. 9 -- 563 new cases
Feb. 10 -- 915 new cases
Feb. 11 -- 1,284 new cases
Feb. 12 -- 1,193 new cases
Feb. 13 -- 852 new cases
Feb. 14 -- 632 new cases
Feb. 15 -- 633 new cases
Michigan COVID-19 daily reported deaths since Jan. 1:
Jan. 15 -- 29 new deaths
Jan. 16 -- 103 (90 from vital records)
Jan. 17 -- 10 new deaths
The coronavirus is here to stay here's what that means Nature.com
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses media questions during a COVID-19 news conference on Feb. 14 in Wellington, New Zealand. Three new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Auckland, the country's largest city. Mark Tantrum/Getty Images hide caption
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern addresses media questions during a COVID-19 news conference on Feb. 14 in Wellington, New Zealand. Three new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Auckland, the country's largest city.
After three members of a family in New Zealand's largest city tested positive for the coronavirus, the city of Auckland has gone into lockdown and the entire country is on high alert.
In a televised address Sunday evening, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country is taking a "precautionary approach that has served us so well as a country."
With just 2,330 confirmed cases and 25 deaths since the coronavirus pandemic began, the island nation has been one of the most successful countries in the world at controlling the spread of the coronavirus. This has been due in large part to its quick and forceful countermeasures whenever a new virus case is detected.
Most new cases are detected in incoming travelers upon arrival, who are then placed into quarantine to prevent community spread. But no one in the infected family had recently traveled, and authorities are investigating how the infection might have occurred. It's the first report of new local transmission of the virus in weeks.
A mother, father and daughter living in South Auckland tested positive and were transferred to a quarantine facility, officials said. A fourth family member was experiencing symptoms but had tested negative for the virus.
The mother works at LSG Sky Chefs, officials said, handling laundry from international flights.
"As we continue to explore all possible sources of transmission for these cases, we will take a particularly close interest in this workplace because of its obvious connections to the border," said Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, one of the country's top health officials.
After meeting Sunday evening, the country's Cabinet decided to move Auckland to Alert Level 3 the country's second-highest alert level for three days. During that time, officials will engage in a testing blitz to establish whether the virus has spread.
Auckland residents are asked to stay home whenever possible and observe social distancing rules. Many businesses and venues, such as libraries, museums, gyms and movie theaters, will close.
A border will be put in place around Auckland, but people will be able to cross the border by getting an exemption from the government, Ardern said.
The rest of the country now goes to Alert Level 2 for the same amount of time. That requires physical distancing, greater record-keeping by businesses and compulsory mask-wearing on public transportation. Mass gatherings will be limited to 100 people.
"We have stamped out the virus before, and we will do it again," Ardern said. "We have a plan that works for our team of 5 million, and you have shown that time and time again."
TALLAHASSEE (AP)
One of Floridas top lieutenants in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak resigned Monday, citing the grueling nature of the role exacerbated by the demands of orchestrating the states pandemic response for his decision to leave the key post.
Jared Moskowitz, who led Floridas Division of Emergency Management for the past two years, said he tired of being away from his wife and two children, all of whom remain in Broward County while he spends much of his time more than 400 miles (640 kilometers) away in the states capital city of Tallahassee.
My 4-year-old said to me a couple of weeks ago: Daddy works for the governor. I dont want daddy to work for the governor anymore. I want daddy to come home, Moskowitz said. And when your 4-year-old says that to you, you listen.
Following the November presidential election, Moskowitz was touted by some Democrats to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency under President Joe Biden but that prospect was doubtful considering his ties with a Republican governor closely allied with former President Donald Trump.
At the start of the pandemic last year, Moskowitz said, he was away from his family for three months to help lead the response to a catastrophic public health crisis that has so far killed nearly 29,000 in Florida and infected more than 1.8 million Floridians.
I spent a tremendous amount of time away from them. My family quarantined without me in the beginning of the pandemic without me for months, Moskowitz said in a telephone interview Monday afternoon, just hours after submitting his resignation to the governor.
At a Monday news conference at the Capitol, Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked Moskowitz for his service.
He has worked incredibly hard. Hes done a fantastic job, DeSantis said. Hes done well by us.
Moskowitz, 40, said he plans to stay in his job until April 30, and the governor has signaled that Kevin Guthrie, the deputy director for the agency, will take on the role.
He said Sunday that he did not have another job lined up and downplayed possibilities that he might seek any of the public offices that are coming up for election next year.
Moskowitz, a Democrat and former member of the state House, assumed the states top emergency job shortly after DeSantis, a Republican, took office in 2019.
As director of emergency management, Moskowitz likely expected to focus on such events like hurricanes.
During his tenure, Moskowitz has instead overseen the emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak, including setting up testing sites and now vaccination facilities across the state.
The task has proven to be a logistical nightmare as well as politically fraught, as Florida became an early epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Moskowitz represented the Coral Springs area of Broward County in the state House of Representatives, serving from 2012 until 2019 and DeSantis tapped him to become his emergency services director.
Moskowitz publicly defended the Republican governor as he came under attack by Democrats and other critics of his response to the coronavirus, including the governors decision to prioritize vaccinations for seniors 65 and up while delaying inoculations for some essential workers.
But Moskowitz at times expressed his independence, such as when, earlier this year, he acknowledged the chaotic rollout of coronavirus vaccines.
The Biden administration is doing a fantastic job with the hand theyve been dealt, trying to increase allocations and production. There is no easy button to do that, he said.
Its not unusual for high-level officials to leave their posts.
Last week, the governors chief of staff, Shane Strum, said he would be departing the DeSantis administration to helm Broward Health.
Opinion
By Emily NewtonThe COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the restaurant industry, but it hasnt ended it. Thanks to quick reactions and a willingness to adjust, establishments of all sizes, locations and niches have managed to stay afloat. With more restaurants reopening, its become clear that some of these changes will last.
Amid the chaos of COVID-19, restaurants adapted because they had to. As 110,000 establishments closed permanently, the industry quickly learned that it must adapt to survive. Now that the sectors lived with these adjustments for some time, their long-term potential is more apparent.
Many of these changes will linger after the pandemic fades. Restaurants have learned their lesson and will shift to prevent or weather future crises. The industry will emerge from the pandemic an entirely different animal, and heres what that will look like.
The most obvious change to come to reopening restaurants is a renewed stress on health and safety. During the pandemic, increased health measures are a government-mandated necessity in some areas. After the pandemic, theyll be an optional but critical part of preventing future risks.
Some measures, like wearing masks and mandating a six-foot distance between seats, will likely fade with the virus. Others, like frequent hand washing, hand sanitizer stations for guests and regular disinfection, will persist. Overall, the industry will take cleanliness more seriously, going beyond meeting FDA regulations and taking a proactive approach to disease prevention.
Restaurant health and safety protocols may reach a scientific level. Some operators may look into metallic nanoparticle coatings to sterilize and disinfect kitchen equipment.
Technology has proven an indispensable resource for restaurants amid the pandemic. From QR code-based menus to app-based reservations and ordering, technology has sustained the industry throughout the past year. These tools can continue to help restaurants outside of the pandemic, too, so the industry will grow increasingly tech-centric.
Technology like digital menus dont just make restaurants safer, but more efficient. As more restaurants start reopening and customers flood back in, these efficiency gains will be crucial. Even lower-volume establishments will streamline dining through technology, as it creates a more gratifying customer experience.
After some time, the industry will move past digital services and embrace automation. Robots are already crucial in food packaging plants, but they could see service in restaurants too. Robotic cashiers, cleaners and even cooks will augment the human workforce, helping businesses serve more guests, and do so faster.
Ghost kitchens restaurants that deal exclusively in carry-out and delivery predate the pandemic, but are now far more enticing. Online delivery orders alone generated $45 billion in 2020, and it will likely take a while before in-house dining regains its place of dominance. Ghost kitchens capitalize on this trend, so theyll remain valuable long after the pandemic subsides.
Even as restaurants reopen, the public may not feel safe dining in. Online ordering has also made getting take-out or delivery easier than ever before, which will carry this trend further. Dine-in establishments cant meet this consumer segments needs as efficiently or effectively as ghost kitchens.
Its also impossible to ignore the economic benefits of the ghost kitchen model. Since it typically requires less space and fewer furnishings, it reduces overhead expenses. Experts warn that full-service restaurants may not recover until 2025, so many businesses may turn to ghost kitchens to recover faster.
The pandemic has been a learning experience for the industry, especially when it comes to inefficiency. When business dropped and money became tight, the ways in which the sector has been wasteful became painfully apparent. Reopening restaurants may take the opportunity to move toward a circular economy, virtually eliminating waste.
Proponents of the circular economy typically highlight its environmental benefits, but theres an economic case as well. Circular food systems could generate $2.7 trillion in annual benefits across the nation. Since this approach eliminates resource waste, it makes restaurants as efficient, and therefore, profitable, as possible.
The industry wont likely shift to a complete circular economy at once, as that takes time and initial disruption. Many restaurants and chains will move in that direction, though, recycling, reusing or upcycling their waste. This approach will ensure that struggling restaurants get all the value they can out of their resources.
When people back on the COVID-19 pandemic, it will represent a turning point in history. As the outbreak put the status quo to the test, it became increasingly evident that restaurants havent been as resilient or efficient as they could. After a disruption as substantial as that, the industry wont return to normal once the outbreak subsides.
The post-COVID restaurant environment will look entirely different from before, and for the better. Establishments will be cleaner, safer, more efficient and profitable than ever before.
About the author:Emily Newton is the editor-in-chief of Revolutionized Magazine, an online publication covering the latest innovations in the industrial sector.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio - As new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations fall sharply, close to 2.2 million Ohioans have either been vaccinated or known to have contracted the coronavirus.
This is based on the state reporting through Monday of the vaccination of 1,307,563 people and the known case count of 941,265, though an unknown number of people fall into both groups.
To date, about 1-in-7 Ohio adults have been vaccinated, and about 1-in-12 Ohioans of all ages are known to have contracted the coronavirus. Health officials believe many more people have contracted the virus than the number confirmed.
Heres a closer look at the trends for cases, hospitalizations, deaths and vaccinations. A chart with county-by-county details can be found at the bottom of this story.
Coronavirus hospitalizations in Ohio have been dropping sharply for weeks.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
Hospitalizations have been on the decline in Ohio for weeks after the rapid spike in the fall. The 1,633 patients reported statewide on Monday marked lowest patient count since Oct. 30.
Mondays preliminary count from the Ohio Hospital Association survey represented a 69% drop from the record of 5,308 on Dec. 15.
Among the 1,633 patients reported Monday, 474 were in intensive care units. This is down from the record of 1,318 on Dec. 15. There were 4,083 patients on Jan. 1 and 2,519 on Feb. 1.
The patient counts still remain above summer and early fall levels. There were 590 patients on the first day of fall, Sept. 22, including 196 in ICU.
About 34% of the states hospital beds were vacant Monday, including 32% of the ICU beds, both up one percentage point in the last week.
Sunday and Monday marked the smallest number of new reports of coronavirus cases for single days in Ohio this year.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
Ohio reported 19,122 cases in the last week, an average of 2,732 a day. This is down from averages of 3,295, 4,346 and 5,370 the last three weeks, and down from close to 6,700 a day at the end of December.
The seven-day total through Monday was lower than at any point since Oct. 29.
The counties with the most cases are Ohios three largest counties - Franklin (109,190 cases), Cuyahoga (92,902) and Hamilton (71,123). Case rates per 100 residents, hospitalizations and deaths for every county in Ohio can be found in the chart at the bottom of this story.
COVID-19 vaccines have been started on close to 14% of Ohio's adult population.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
The dropping case numbers come as more Ohioans have received vaccines.
The 1,307,563 vaccinations started through reporting on Monday is up from 1,058,141 last week and 361,603 a month ago on Jan. 14.
This means about 14% of Ohio adults have been vaccinated to date.
These are estimates in large part because the Ohio data for vaccines includes some people from other states who work in Ohio - 27,247 so far - yet some Ohioans may have received vaccinations in other states.
The counties with the most vaccines started are Franklin (139,788) and Cuyahoga (130,238).
Among the 1.3 million receiving their first dose, 481,339 have received all recommended doses.
The Ohio Department of Health's correction of COVID-19 death reports has resulted in a near doubling of deaths for December. Reports for more recent weeks are more incomplete.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
Death totals as reported are up significantly because the state discovered a backlog that had caused an undercount by more than 4,000. This reporting began Thursday.
The state has now reported 16,394 deaths caused by the coronavirus to date, more than a third of which (5,597) occurred in December.
The months with the next highest deaths reported to date are November (2,884), January (1,609), May (1,187) and April (1,107).
Among the dead are at least 5,582 patients of nursing homes and other long-term facilities, according to the the states last update on Wednesday.
The counties with the most deaths are Cuyahoga (1,634), Franklin (1,168) and Hamilton (909). Death totals for all counties are shown in the graphic at the bottom of this story.
The estimated number of active coronavirus cases in Ohio has been cut more than in half.Rich Exner, cleveland.com
Seventy-nine percent of the deaths have been to people age 70 and older, breaking down this way: under age 20 (10), in their 20s (21), in their 30s (96), in their 40s (220), in their 50s (796), in their 60s (2,284), in their 70s (4,309) and at least 80 years old (8,658).
Those age 80 and up have accounted for 52% of the known coronavirus deaths, in comparison to 44% of all known Ohio deaths in 2018. Those in their 70s have accounted for 26% of the coronavirus deaths, in comparison to 21% of all Ohio deaths in 2018 ahead of the virus.
But for hospitalizations, the cases are more spread out age-wise: under age 20 (1,117), in their 20s (1,861), in their 30s (2,458), in their 40s (3,733), in their 50s (6,861), in their 60s (10,411), in their 70s (11,601) and at least 80 years old (10,593).
For the deaths in which race was reported, 84% of the people are white, and 12% are Black. For total cases, 75% are white and 13% Black. Ohios population is 82% white and 13% Black, census estimates say.
The first three cases were confirmed on March 9. The total topped 100,000 on Aug. 9, 250,000 on Nov. 8, 500,000 on Dec. 8, and 750,000 on Thursday, Jan. 7.
Among the cases reported to date are 128,965 listed as probable, those cases included by a wider variety of tests or identified through non-testing evidence. This total is up from 122,698 last week.
The state reported 9,619,261 tests to date, including 244,856 in the last week, in comparison to 269,548 and 290,623 the previous two weeks.
The chart below is based on the most recent case data from the Ohio Department of Health. Cleveland.com calculated the cases per 100 rates based on 2019 census population estimates.
Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. See other data-related stories at cleveland.com/datacentral.
Some mobile users may need to use this link instead to view the county-by-county chart.
Previous stories
Ohio coronavirus by ZIP code: see recent case numbers for every Ohio ZIP code
Ohios corrected coronavirus death data unmasks how grim December was for COVID-19
Ohio reports 1,915 new coronavirus cases; second smallest increase of the year: Monday update
Close to 72% of Cuyahoga County residents live within a mile of a vaccination site
As the coronavirus spread across the globe, so too did speculation about its origins. Perhaps the virus escaped from a lab. Maybe it was engineered as a bioweapon.
Legitimate questions about the virus created perfect conditions for conspiracy theories. In the absence of knowledge, guesswork and propaganda flourished.
College professors with no evidence or training in virology were touted as experts. Anonymous social media users posed as high-level intelligence officials. And from China to Iran to Russia to the United States, governments amplified claims for their own motives.
The Associated Press collaborated with the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab on a nine-month investigation to identify the people and organizations behind some of the most viral misinformation about the origins of the coronavirus.
Their claims were explosive. Their evidence was weak. These are the superspreaders.
FRANCIS BOYLE
WHO HE IS: A Harvard trained law professor at the University of Illinois, Boyle drafted a 1989 law banning biological weapons and has advised the nation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Palestinian Authority.
Boyle has no academic degree in virology or biology but is a longstanding critic of research on pathogens. He has claimed Israeli intelligence was involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing; that SARS, the swine flu and Ebola have been genetically modified; and that West Nile virus and Lyme disease escaped from a U.S. biowarfare lab. He has also claimed that Microsoft founder Bill Gates was involved in the spread of Zika.
COVID CLAIM: Boyle says the coronavirus is a genetically engineered bioweapon that escaped from a high-level lab in Wuhan, China. He maintains it shows signs of nanotechnological tinkering and the insertion of proteins from HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus. He alleges that U.S. researchers helped create it, and that thousands of doctors, scientists, and elected leaders are conspiring to hide the truth.
Boyle promoted his claim in an email to a list of news organizations and personal contacts on Jan. 24, 2020. That same day, he was interviewed on a podcast called Geopolitics and Empire. That podcast was cited by a little-known Indian website, GreatGameIndia, and went viral, with Boyles comments picked up and featured in Iranian-state TV, Russian state media, and fringe websites in the U.S. and around the world. Hes since repeated his claims on Alex Jones show Infowars.
EVIDENCE? Boyle bases his argument on circumstantial evidence: the presence of a Biosafety Level 4 lab in Wuhan, the fact that other viruses have escaped from other labs in the past, and his belief that governments around the world are engaged in a secret arms race over biological weapons.
Biosafety Level 4 labs - or BSL4 labs - have the highest level of biosafety precautions.
It seemed to me that obviously, this came out of the Wuhan BSL 4, Boyle told The Associated Press, dismissing the accepted explanation that the virus emerged from the Wuhan market as completely preposterous.
A World Heath Organization team concluded it was extremely unlikely the virus escaped from the Wuhan lab, and other experts have said the virus shows no signs of genetic manipulation.
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GREATGAMEINDIA
WHAT IT IS: A website that was an early promoter of the theory that the coronavirus was engineered.
Its Jan. 26, 2020, story on Coronavirus bioweapon-How China Stole the Coronavirus From Canada and Weaponized It was picked up by far-right financial blog Zero Hedge and shared to thousands of social media users before it was promoted by conservative website RedStateWatcher and received more than 6 million engagements.
COVID CLAIM: GreatGameIndia claims that the virus, which has now killed more than 2 million people worldwide, was first found in the lungs of a Saudi man and then sent to labs in the Netherlands and then Canada, where it was stolen by Chinese scientists. The article relies in part on speculation from Dany Shoham, a virologist and former lieutenant colonel in Israeli military intelligence.
Shoham was quoted discussing the possibility that COVID is linked to bioweapon research in a Jan. 26, 2020, article in the conservative U.S. newspaper The Washington Times. In that article, Shoham was quoted saying there was no evidence to support the idea that the virus has escaped from a lab, but GreatGameIndia did not include that context in its piece.
We do stand by our report, said website co-founder Shelley Kasli wrote in an email. In fact, recently Canadians released documents which corroborated our findings with Chinese scientists... A lot of information is still classified.
EVIDENCE? The coronavirus most likely first appeared in humans after jumping from an animal, a World Health Organization panel announced this month, saying an alternate theory that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab was unlikely.
Americas top scientists have likewise concluded the virus is of natural origin, citing clues in its genome and its similarity to SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. Vincent Racaniello, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University, who has been studying the virus since its genome was first recorded, has said it is clear that the virus was not engineered or accidentally released.
It is something that is clearly selected in nature, Racaniello said. There are two examples where the sequence tells us that humans had no hand in making this virus because they would not have known to do these things.
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THE CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON GLOBALIZATION
WHAT IT IS: The Montreal-based center publishes articles on global politics and policy, including a healthy dose of conspiracy theories on vaccines and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Its led by Michel Chossudovsky, a professor emeritus of economics at the University of Ottawa and a conspiracy theorist who has argued the U.S. military can control the weather.
The center publishes authors from around the world many of whom have advanced baseless claims about the origins of the outbreak. In February, for instance, the center published an interview with Igor Nikulin suggesting the coronavirus was a U.S. bioweapon created to target Chinese people.
The centers website, globalresearch.ca., has become deeply enmeshed in Russias broader disinformation and propaganda ecosystem by peddling anti-U.S. conspiracy theories, according to a 2020 U.S. State Department report which found that seven of its supposed writers do not even exist but were created by Russian military intelligence.
COVID CLAIM: While the center has published several articles about the virus, one suggesting it originated in the U.S. caught the attention of top Chinese officials.
On March 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian retweeted an article published by the center titled: Chinas Coronavirus: A Shocking Update. Did The Virus Originate in the US?
This article is very much important to each and every one of us, he posted in English on Twitter. Please read and retweet it. COVID-19: Further Evidence that the Virus Originated in the US.
He also tweeted: It might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan. Be transparent! Make public your data! US owe us an explanation.
The story by Larry Romanoff, a regular author at the center, cites several debunked theories, including one that members of the U.S. military brought the virus to China during the Military World Games in fall 2019. Romanoff concludes that it has now been proven that the virus originated from outside of China, despite scientific consensus that it did.
EVIDENCE? The World Health Organization has concluded that the coronavirus emerged in China, where the first cases and deaths were reported. No evidence has surfaced to suggest the virus was imported into China by the U.S.
Chossudovsky and Romanoff did not respond to repeated messages seeking comment. Romanoffs biography lists him as a visiting professor at Fudan University in Shanghai, but he is not listed among the universitys faculty. The university did not respond to an email asking about Romanoffs employment.
Romanoffs original article was taken down in the spring, but Zhaos tweet remains up.
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IGOR NIKULIN
WHO IS HE? A four-time failed political candidate, Nikulin is prominently quoted in Russian state media and fringe publications in the west as a biologist and former weapons inspector in Iraq who served on a U.N. commission on biological and chemical weapons in the 1990s.
COVID CLAIM: Nikulin argues the U.S. created the virus and used it to attack China. He first voiced the belief in a Jan. 20, 2020, story by Zvezda, a state media outlet tied to the Russian military. He appeared on Russian state TV at least 18 times between Jan. 27, 2020, and late April of that year.
Once the virus reached the U.S., Nikulin changed his theory, saying globalists were using the virus to depopulate the earth.
Nikulin has expressed support for weaponizing misinformation to hurt the U.S. in the past. On his website, he suggests claiming the U.S. created HIV as a way to weaken America from within. Russian intelligence mounted a similar 1980s disinformation campaign dubbed Operation INFEKTION.
If you prove and declare... that the virus was bred in American laboratories, the American economy will collapse under the onslaught of billions of lawsuits by millions of AIDS carriers around the world, Nikulin wrote on his website.
EVIDENCE? Nikulin offered no evidence to support his assertions, and there are reasons to doubt his veracity.
Former U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler, for whom Nikulin claims to have worked, said he had no memory of Nikulin, and that his story sounded sloppily fabricated, and not credible.
No U.N. records could be found to confirm his employment.
In an exchange with the AP over Facebook, Nikulin insisted his claims and background are accurate, though he said some records from U.N. work were destroyed in an American bombing during the Iraq invasion.
When told that Butler didnt know him, Nikulin responded This is his opinion.
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GREG RUBINI
WHO HE IS: Greg Rubini is the name of an internet conspiracy theorist who claims to have high-level contacts in intelligence and listed his location on Twitter as classified, until he was kicked off the platform. His posts have been retweeted thousands of times by supporters of QAnon, a conspiracy theory centered on the baseless belief that Trump is waging a secret campaign against enemies in the deep state and a secret sect of satanic pedophiles and cannibals.
COVID CLAIM: Rubini has tweeted that Dr. Anthony Fauci created the coronavirus and that it was used as a bioweapon to reduce the worlds population and undermine Trump.
EVIDENCE? Rubinis doesnt appear to be the intelligence insider that he pretends to be.
Buzzfeed attempted to track down Rubini last year and determined it is the alias of a 61-year-old Italian man who has worked in marketing and music promotions. A previous version of his Twitter bio indicates he is a fan of classic rock and the films of Stanley Kubrick.
Attempts to reach Rubini online and through business contacts were unsuccessful.
Rubini has bristled at efforts to verify his claims. When a social media user asked: My question to you @GregRubini is, Where and what is your proof? Rubini responded curtly: And my question is: why should I give it to you?
Twitter suspended Rubinis account in November 2020 for repeated violations of its policies.
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KEVIN BARRETT
WHO HE IS: A former lecturer on Islam at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Barrett left the university amid criticism for his claims that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were orchestrated by people linked to the U.S. and Israeli governments.
Barrett calls himself a professional conspiracy theorist, for want of a better term and has argued government conspiracies were behind the 2004 Madrid bombing, the 2005 London bombing, the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting.
COVID CLAIM: Barrett said he is 80% sure coronavirus was created by elements within the U.S. government as a bioweapon and used to attack China.
Iran was a secondary target, he has argued. Writing for Irans PressTV, he said the early outbreak in that country suggests that the Americans and/or their partners the Israelis... may have deliberately attacked Iran.
Barrett further detailed his views during an interview with the AP.
It seemed fairly obvious to me that the first hypothesis one would look at when something as extraordinary as this COVID pandemic hits, is that it would be a US bio-war strike, he said.
EVIDENCE? Barrett cited reports that the US warned its allies in November 2019 about a dangerous virus emerging from China. Barrett said thats long before authorities in China knew about the severity of the outbreak.
Official sources have denied issuing any warning. If the U.S. did know about the virus that soon, it was likely thanks to intelligence sources within China, which may have known about the virus as early as November 2019, according to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
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LUC MONTAGNIER
WHO HE IS: Montagnier is a world-renowned virologist who won the Nobel prize in 2008 for discovering HIV.
COVID CLAIM: During an April interview with the French news channel CNews, Montagnier claimed that the coronavirus did not originate in nature and was manipulated. Montagnier said that in the process of making the vaccine for AIDS, someone took the genetic material and added it to the coronavirus. Montagnier cites a retracted paper published in January from Indian scientists who had said they had found sequences of HIV in the coronavirus. AP made multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact Montagnier.
EVIDENCE: Experts who have looked at the genome sequence of the virus have said it has no HIV-1 sequences. In January, Indian scientists published a paper on bioRXIV, a repository for scientific papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a traditional scientific journal. The paper said that the scientists had found uncanny similarity of unique inserts in COVID-19 and HIV. Social media users picked up the paper as proof that the virus was engineered. As soon as it was published, the scientific community widely debunked the paper on social media. It was later withdrawn.
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SUPREME LEADER ALI KHAMENEI and HOSSEIN SALAMI
WHO THEY ARE: Khamenei is the second and current Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He has the final say on all matters of state, including the economy, military and health divisions.
Since being elected to office in 1981, Khamenei has maintained his skeptical view of the U.S. as Irans foremost enemy. The tensions between the two countries boiled over in 2018 when Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed crippling sanctions. At the time, Khamenei remarked, I said from the first day: Dont trust America.
Hossein Salami was appointed by Khamenei as commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard in April 2019. He leads the countrys paramilitary force that oversees Irans ballistic missile program and responds to threats from both inside and outside the country.
COVID CLAIM: Salami declared on March 5, 2020, that Iran was engaged in a fight against a virus that might be the product of an American biological attack. On those grounds, Salami ordered a Ground Force Biological Defense Maneuver to test the countrys ability to combat a biological attack. Beginning March 16, the Ground Force, in close collaboration with the Health Ministry, began holding nationwide biodefense drills.
Khamenei was among the first and most powerful world leaders to suggest the coronavirus could be a biological weapon created by the U.S. During his annual address on March 22 to millions of Iranians for the Persian New Year, Khamenei questioned why the U.S. would offer aid to countries like Iran if they themselves were suffering and accused of making the virus.
Khamenei went on to refuse U.S. assistance, saying possibly (U.S.) medicine is a way to spread the virus more. Last month, he refused to accept coronavirus vaccines manufactured in Britain and the U.S., calling them forbidden. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations in New York did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
EVIDENCE: There is no evidence that the U.S. created the virus or used it as a weapon to attack Iran.
