In the first three weeks of availability, 128,390 Michiganders have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, the state health department announced Monday, Jan. 4.
The state has administered 65,181 shots over the last week, or about 9,312 vaccines per day. With 379,325 doses distributed to the states various providers to-date, that means nearly 34% of on-hand vaccines have been administered as of Sunday, Jan. 3, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Mondays update was the first in five days after a pause in reporting due to the holidays and subsequent weekend. The states total vaccinations jumped from 86,626 doses to 128,390 doses over that time.
Lynn Sutfin, a spokeswoman for MDHHS, said she anticipates vaccinations will move more quickly in the coming weeks now that were past the holiday season. The state reported new one-day highs in vaccinations the first three days last week before numbers dropped off leading up to New Years Day.
Health care workers have been given top priority to receive the vaccine first, followed by residents and staff of long-term care facilities. Other essential workers and individuals at higher risk for serious cases of COVID-19 will follow in the coming weeks and months when more doses are available.
Of the vaccines administered through Sunday, 103,940 were done so in hospitals and 16,559 were done through local health departments. Another 7,094 were administered through the long-term care program, which works with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies to get shots to staff and residents of nursing homes and other care facilities.
The majority of doses administered to date have been the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine (100,313), compared to 28,077 of the Moderna vaccine. Similarly, the state has distributed 279,825 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and 99,500 of the Moderna shot.
As of Dec. 31, the CDC reported that 282,750 doses of the Pfizer vaccine had been allocated for Michigan, and 293,400 doses of the Moderna vaccine were allocated for the state. In both case, the same amount of doses are on hold by the CDC to be shipped and administered to the same individuals as second doses when appropriate.
Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses spaced weeks apart, with 95% and 94% efficacy in trials, respectively. A second dose is required three weeks later for the Pfizer vaccine, and four weeks later for the Moderna shot.
The vaccines dont use live or dead virus. Instead, they use mRNA to get the bodys cells to make a protein that triggers the production of antibodies that would fight off future coronavirus infection. Both shots appear to reduce risk of severe COVID-19 illness, though its not yet clear how long theyre effective.
Both vaccines have received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and approval from the CDC to be used in adults. More research is needed to determine if they should be recommend for use in children.
MDHHS plans to provide updated counts for vaccinations and vaccine distributions each afternoon Monday through Friday through its online vaccine dashboard. Mondays update came after the state announced it had surpassed 500,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19.
To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
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King, 87, was moved to the ICU on New Year's Eve and was receiving oxygen but is now breathing on his own, a spokesman said.
LOS ANGELES Veteran talk show host Larry King, suffering from COVID-19, has been moved out of the intensive care unit at a Los Angeles hospital and is breathing on his own, a spokesman said on Monday.
King was moved to the ICU on New Year's Eve and was receiving oxygen but is now breathing on his own, said David Theall, a spokesman for Ora Media, a production company formed by King.
The 87-year-old broadcasting legend shared a video phone call with his three sons, Theall said.
He has had medical issues in recent decades, including heart attacks and diagnoses of diabetes and lung cancer. His age and medical history puts him in the higher-risk category for complications from COVID-19. While the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms in most people, it can be deadly for the elderly and people with other, serious health problems.
The Peabody Award-winning broadcaster was among America's most prominent interviewers of celebrities, presidents and other newsmakers during a half-century career that included 25 years with a nightly show on CNN.
King became the host of "Larry King Now," in 2012 with on demand network Ora TV, which airs three times a week. King co-founded the digital network with Mexican telecommunications mogul Carlos Slim, Forbes reported.
UND will be hosting more coronavirus testing this week.
The university will host a walk-up testing event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 5, at the High Performance Center in Grand Forks.
Testing at the event will include PCR tests and BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests. A PCR test looks at the genetic material of the virus, and an antigen test looks for pieces of proteins that make up COVID-19. Both tests determine if the person has an active infection. BinaxNOW is a rapid antigen test with results available in apbout 15 minutes. The antigen tests are not as sensitive and do have a higher false-negative rate meaning you may test negative, but still have the virus.
People of all ages may participate in the testing event, even if they do not have symptoms. The COVID-19 test is a point-in-time test.
If a person was identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case, it is recommended to get tested. The CDC issued new guidance reducing the days close contacts will need to quarantine following an exposure to a COVID-positive individual. The updated guidance can be found at www.health.nd.gov/closecontact. One of the options to reduce the length of quarantine to seven days is for the individual to remain symptom-free and test negative for COVID-19 48 hours prior to release.
Interested individuals can fill out an online survey at testreg.nd.gov for quicker registration.
Upcoming testing events can be found at www.grandforksgov.com/masstesting.
[photo courtesy BioNTech SE]
Albemarle Regional Health Services will be offering drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinics on a first-come, first-served basis for the eight counties in their service territory this week.
ARHS is mobilizing all of our public health resources to meet the demand we are experiencing and serve individuals in phase 1A and 1B Group 1, said R. Battle Betts, Jr., MPA, ARHS Health Director.
We ask our residents to review these guidelines and allow these priority groups to be served on these dates, Betts said.
As additional supplies are made available and we begin to move to vaccination of other phases, we will offer additional clinics across the district, Betts said. We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation as we respond to this pandemic.
North Carolinians who fall under Phase 1a and Phase 1b, Group 1 are the only ones currently allowed to get the vaccines.
Hospitals and local health departments are vaccinating health care workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19 and those giving vaccines.
In addition, the federal government is vaccinating long-term care residents and staff.
Anyone 75 years or older and residents of North Carolina, regardless of medical condition or living situation, can get their shots at the clinics starting this week.
There will be no cost for the vaccine at the drive-thru clinics, however if you have insurance, that information will requested.
Individuals will be asked to provide vaccination registration information and wait for 15 minutes following the vaccine per standard protocol.
Information on the vaccine and a card will be provided that will remind you of when your second dose is due, approximately 3-4 weeks following the first dose.
ARHS COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics:Currituck County Maple Park: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Bertie County Health Department: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Camden County Health Department: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.Chowan County Health Department: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Gates County Health Department: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.Ahoskie Creek Amphitheater: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Perquimans County Recreation Center: Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Internal Revenue Service says people should visit https://irs.gov for the most current information on the second round of Economic Impact Payments rather than calling the agency or their financial institutions or tax software providers. IRS phone assistors do not have additional information beyond whats available on IRS.gov. The IRS and the Treasury Department began issuing a second round of Economic Impact Payments, often referred to as stimulus payments, last week.
The direct deposit payments may take several days to post to individual accounts. Some Americans may have seen the direct deposit payments as pending or as provisional payments in their accounts before the scheduled payment date of Jan. 4, 2021, which is the official date funds are available.
Paper checks also began going out and will continue to be sent through January. Some people will be mailed debit cards in January, and the IRS urges people to carefully check their mail. Mailed payments will require more processing and mailing time. Those who reside abroad will have longer wait times for checks as disruptions to air travel and mail delivery in some countries will slow delivery.
The IRS emphasizes that there is no action required by eligible individuals to receive this second payment. The payments are automatic, and people should not contact their financial institutions or the IRS with payment timing questions.
Eligibility
Generally, U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are not eligible to be claimed as a dependent on someone elses income tax return are eligible for this second payment. Eligible individuals will automatically receive an Economic Impact Payment of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child. Most people who have an adjusted gross income for 2019 of up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses, will receive the full amount of the second payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced.
Checking the status of a payment
Starting today, people can check the status of both their first and second payments by using the Get My Payment tool, available in English and Spanish only on IRS.gov.
Payment not received or less than expected? Claim on 2020 tax return Payments started going out last week and will continue through mid-January. Direct deposit payments are being made first to those that have valid routing and account information on file for direct deposit purposes. Because of the speed at which IRS issued this second round of payments, some payments may have been sent to an account that may be closed or no longer active. By law, the financial institution must return the payment to the IRS, they cannot hold and issue the payment to an individual when the account is no longer active. While the IRS is exploring options to correct these payments, if you have not received your full payment by the time you file your 2020 tax return, you may claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on your tax return.
The credit is figured like the Economic Impact Payment, except that the credit eligibility and the credit amount are based on the 2020 tax year information, including income.
For people who received a partial Economic Impact Payment, they can take the Recovery Rebate Credit for any remaining amount theyre eligible for by completing line 30 of the 2020 Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
Changing bank account or mailing information
The IRS cannot change payment information, including bank account or mailing information. If an eligible taxpayer does not get a payment or it is less than expected, it may be claimed on the 2020 tax return as the Recovery Rebate Credit. Remember, Economic Impact Payments are an advance payment of what will be called the Recovery Rebate Credit on the 2020 Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.
More information
For more information about Economic Impact Payments and the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit, visit IRS.gov/eip. Starting next week, people can check the status of their payment at IRS.gov/GetMyPayment. For other COVID-19-related tax relief, visit IRS.gov/Coronavirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been puzzling to many public health experts because Africa has reported far fewer cases and deaths from COVID-19 than predicted. As of 22 November 2020, the continent of Africa, comprising 1.3 billion people, had recorded 2,070,953 cases of COVID-19 and 49,728 deaths (1), representing 3.6% of total global cases (2, 3). Because of the continent's overstrained and weak health systems, inadequate financing of health care, paucity in human resources, and challenges posed by existing endemic diseasesincluding HIV, tuberculosis, and malariaearlier predictions suggested that up to 70 million Africans may be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) by June, with more than 3 million deaths (4). On page 79 of this issue, Uyoga et al. (5) report a serosurvey study (measuring the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) of blood donors in Kenya that suggested that the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection is much higher than expected from case numbers.
Using blood donor samples as a proxy, Uyoga et al. estimated that SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred in 5.5% of the population in Kisumu, 7.3% in Nairobi, and 8.0% in Mombasa, with an overall average of 4.3%. This translates to 2.2 million total possible infections compared with the reported 77,585 infections in the country as of 23 November 2020 (1, 3). Similarly, in October 2020, Mozambique reported less than 3000 confirmed cases of COVID-19; however, serosurveys found that 5% of households in the city of Nampula and 2.5% of households in the city of Pemba had been exposed to the virus (6). This suggests that there may be more infections than recorded.
The trend of daily reported cases of COVID-19 for the African continent, February to November 2020, shows the first peak of cases occurred July to August (mostly attributed to the Southern African Region) followed by a second peak, which started in October (mostly attributed to the Northern Region).
There are several factors that may influence the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. These include limited testing (which limits detection and isolation, and thus public health measures), a much younger population (and thus fewer severe cases and deaths), climatic differences (which could affect transmission), preexisting immunity, genetic factors, early implementation of public health measures, and timely leadership. Two key aspects that may contribute to our understanding of the pandemic puzzle in Africa include scaling up of testing and use of serosurveys.
One way to unravel the puzzle of SARS-CoV-2 spread is to understand how testing and reporting of cases has occurred. On 14 February 2020, the first cases of COVID-19 were reported in Africa, and by 17 April 2020, the continent had conducted an estimated 330,419 SARS-CoV-2 tests; that is 0.03% of the entire continent's population. In an effort to scale up testing, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) launched the Partnership to Accelerate COVID-19 Testing (PACT) in April 2020. Because of the PACT initiative, testing was scaled up rapidly from 600,000 per month in April to 3.5 million per month in November 2020, an increase of 5.5-fold (7), with 39 of 55 (71%) countries reporting more than 10 tests conducted for every case identified, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (8). Testing capacity has varied over time, with positivity rate fluctuating between 5 and 15% regardless of the increased testing boost brought by the introduction of PACT.
Therefore, it is clear that testing has been challenging (9, 10), which limits our understanding of the full extent of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Africa. As such, serosurveys are critical because they can provide data on SARS-CoV-2 infection trends, effects of interventions, demographic characterization, and vaccine effects. Such surveys can also inform on planning for vaccine deployment by providing data to guide prioritization between different populations. They can also aid understanding of the drivers of infection through linking current or previous infection with epidemiological and demographic data. Currently, the continent is facing a challenging phase of the pandemic with an observed second wave of cases (see the figure). More people need to be tested in different localities, including repeated testing over time, so that the patterns and risk factors of viral spread can be understood.
Several serosurveys have been conducted in Africa. The studies differ in methodological approach used: simple random sampling, use of existing sentinel sites, and targeted population (specific subnational unit, pregnant women, blood donors, and people living with HIV). The types of laboratory tests used (rapid tests and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) also differed between studies so as to unveil the drivers of infection and disease spread. Given the limited ability to conduct field surveys (the preferred method) owing to travel restrictions, Uyoga et al. investigated blood donors to reveal the pandemic puzzle in Kenya. From these surveys in Africa, seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2specific antibodies have ranged from 2.2 to 39% of the population in different settings and countries. However, none of the studies have used a national representative sample.
To ensure a harmonized and standardized method of conducting serosurveys in Africa, the Africa CDC is supporting multinational population-based, age, and gender stratified serosurveys that use standardized protocol and data collection tools (11). The protocol is built on a simplistic model, using point-of-care rapid test for antibody detection of current and previous infection, to ensure feasibility and simplicity while maintaining study quality and credibility of the evidence generated. A similar approach has been applied to national representative cohorts in Brazil and Spain (12, 13).
Across Africa, policy makers are faced with the dilemma of striking a balance between limiting transmission and protecting economies, businesses, and livelihoods. This has created a demand for quality and comprehensive data. Serosurveys could therefore complement existing response strategies. Such surveys should adhere to the following principles: a national representative sample through well-designed sampling strategies that ensure inclusivity of all possible strata within the country; simplicity to guarantee feasibility and quick delivery; optimization of resources for implementation (human, material, and financial) to safeguard the already constrained resources for response; complementarity to already existing surveillance and response data; and the ability to longitudinally track the same aspect of data and information over time to inform adaptive strategies.
Timely leadership and coordination may be a second aspect that explains the pandemic pattern in Africa. The continent reacted in a timely and collective manner once the first cases of SARS-CoV-2 were reported in Egypt on 14 February 2020. Following that, on 22 February 2020, the Africa CDC convened an emergency meeting of all ministers of health at the headquarters of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The ministers adopted a joint continental strategy that had three goals: limit transmission, limit deaths, and limit social and economic harms and impacts on other endemic diseases, underpinned by the need to coordinate, cooperate, collaborate, and communicate efforts across Africa. In addition, the Africa Taskforce on Coronavirus (AFTCOR) was established to help implement the strategy and was endorsed by the Bureau of the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union, a validation at the highest level of the continent. This approach helped blunt the early spread of COVID-19.
Therefore, in March 2020, when several countries in Africa began reporting imported cases of COVID-19, there was clarity on the course of action to take. For example, as part of the AFTCOR, the Africa CDC rapidly supported member states to establish diagnostics capacity and expanded testing capacity from two countries in February to more than 43 by the end of March, through competency-based training of member countries at reference centers in Dakar, Senegal, and Johannesburg, South Africa. The coordinated approach ensured harmony in response strategies. For example, the establishment of the African Medical Supply Platform helped to streamline the procurement of response commodities.
The puzzle of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa can partly be explained by decisive measures taken early to prepare the continent. However, more data are needed to complement what is routinely collected through surveillance and response to understand the different pieces of the puzzle that contribute to the pattern of the pandemic in Africa. Serosurveys and the use of genomic epidemiology can help to better understand disease spread. Further understanding of factors that influence viral pathogenesis and clinical spectrum of disease, and the impacts on endemic infections (HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria), are needed. Efforts to understand attitudes to COVID-19 vaccines are also a priority.
One celebration in Queens had in excess of 300 patrons, who were "consuming alcohol, singing karaoke, and dancing." Congregants went unmasked, according to the sheriff.
The party, held at a lounge, allegedly operated like a speakeasy, with an emergency exit that "required an employee to open it from the inside," according to the sheriff's office.
The alleged organizer of the party, Man Phan, told CNN that he was not aware of rules against congregating in large groups ahead of the event. He said the party had only been intended for friends, and that no one was paying for alcohol or entry.
"It was not supposed to be that many people," Phan said, adding that he thought the actual number of partygoers was much less than the 300 approximated by the sheriff's office. "Things got out of control. We didn't mean it, but it happened that way."
Phan was issued violations for an unlicensed bottle club, violating executive and emergency orders, and obstructed egress, among others. His wife, a DJ and an employee also were issued violations, while the lounge was fined $15,000 for failing to protect health and safety.
Deputies raiding a party in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan found 145 people, also with many unmasked and dancing, while a Brooklyn gathering of 80 people blasted music through an open door, according to the sheriff.
The office shared a photo of the SoHo party, which showed boxes of Moet champagne and Patron tequila, alongside bottles of Bombay Sapphire and Ketel One vodka. Organizers were charged $1,000 each for violating orders against mass gatherings, while the promoter was charged with violating the orders and alcohol violations and fined $15,000 for failing to protect health and safety, according to the sheriff's office.
Organizers at all three events were issued violations for failing to protect health and safety, and violation of state and city orders against non-essential gatherings, among other charges. It appeared that no partygoers were charged.
Organizers for the Manhattan and Brooklyn parties could not be immediately reached by CNN.
Before the coronavirus upended daily life, it took transportation planner Patrick Mandapaka an hour to commute to work near downtown Houston. When the pandemic eases, he expects lighter traffic will shave 15 to 30 minutes off that drivetime he can spend with family or on his favorite walking trail instead of staring at car bumpers.
Workers across the U.S. can look forward to similarly improved post-pandemic commutes, thanks to the anticipated staying power of the work-from-home trend, say people who study transportation.
Even after offices reopen on a large scale, many employees will likely go in only a few days a week and a large share will have flexibility to travel at off-peak times, according to recent surveys. Fewer cars on the road during rush hour would mean less traffic congestion.
It will be as though maybe you added a lane each direction in the freeway, said Tim Lomax, research fellow at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. This telework phenomenon has shown people that they dont have to be in the office all the time.
The impacts will depend on a range of factors, including how much leeway employers give and the choices employees make. In big metro areas with robust public transit systems, some planners and academics worry that a large-scale shift from trains and buses to carsa phenomenon the pandemic has put into motioncould worsen traffic snarls.
St. Bonaventure president Dennis DePerro was hospitalized in Syracuse earlier this week with pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19.
The president of St. Bonaventure University was hospitalized in Syracuse earlier this week with pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19, the university reported Saturday on its website.
Dr. Dennis DePerro is recovering, according to the university. He tested positive for the virus on Christmas Eve.
Ive started to feel better the last couple of days and cant thank the hospital staff enough for the care Ive received, Dr. DePerro was quoted as saying.
The university announced that Dr. Joseph Zimmer, provost and vice president of academic affairs, will temporarily handle Dr. DePerros duties.
University offices are set to reopen Monday and spring semester classes are scheduled to begin Jan. 25.
Dr. DePerro, who became St. Bonaventures 21st president in 2017, left campus for his second home in Syracuse Dec. 18 for the universitys two-week holiday break.
The campus was closed for the semester Nov. 20 after a sudden increase on Covid-19 cases.
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COVID-19: DCPS employees 65 and older to receive vaccine from Florida Department of Health ActionNewsJax.com
