The Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met on 29 October to review the situation and progress made on the temporary recommendations. They advised that the pandemic still constituted a public health emergency of international concern, and urged a focus on response efforts based on lessons learned and strong science.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accepted the advice of the committee, stating that WHO will continue to work in partnership across the world to drive science, solutions and solidarity.
The committee expressed appreciation for WHOs leadership and activities throughout the global response, including its critical role in developing evidence-based guidance, providing countries with technical assistance and critical supplies and equipment, communicating clear information and addressing misinformation, and convening the Solidarity Trials and the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
The committee provided concrete and targeted advice for WHO and countries to focus on in the coming months. It emphasized the importance of evidence-informed, risk-based and coherent measures in relation to international traffic, surveillance and contract tracing efforts, maintaining essential health services including mental health services, and preparing plans for future COVID-19 vaccines. The committee urged countries to avoid politicization of the pandemic response, seen as a major detriment to global efforts. Read the full statement.
As the committee convened for the fifth time, global reported cases had reached 44 million, with over 1.1 million people having lost their lives to COVID-19.
The Emergency Committee on COVID-19 met on 29 October to review the situation and progress made on the temporary recommendations. They advised that the pandemic still constituted a public health emergency of international concern, and urged a focus on response efforts based on lessons learned and strong science.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus accepted the advice of the committee, stating that WHO will continue to work in partnership across the world to drive science, solutions and solidarity.
The committee expressed appreciation for WHOs leadership and activities throughout the global response, including its critical role in developing evidence-based guidance, providing countries with technical assistance and critical supplies and equipment, communicating clear information and addressing misinformation, and convening the Solidarity Trials and the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
The committee provided concrete and targeted advice for WHO and countries to focus on in the coming months. It emphasized the importance of evidence-informed, risk-based and coherent measures in relation to international traffic, surveillance and contract tracing efforts, maintaining essential health services including mental health services, and preparing plans for future COVID-19 vaccines. The committee urged countries to avoid politicization of the pandemic response, seen as a major detriment to global efforts. Read the full statement.
As the committee convened for the fifth time, global reported cases had reached 44 million, with over 1.1 million people having lost their lives to COVID-19.
Bostons COVID-19 positive test rate is a wildfire that is close to becoming an inferno if officials fail to take more precautions, according to one expert.
The citys positive test rate has doubled in a month and a half to 7.8%, and shows no sign of dropping.
And Boston is not alone. Last week, 121 of the states cities and towns more than a third of the 351 total Massachusetts municipalities are in the high-risk red zone.
7.8 % is a wildfire. Were getting close to an inferno, said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. The time is now to take our foot completely off the accelerator and onto the brakes; otherwise the governor, his leadership team and the state Department of Public Health will be forced to put their foot on the emergency brake. It may already be too late to avoid that.
Boston Health Chief Marty Martinez told reporters on Friday that the city is considering stopping indoor dining or rolling back other restrictions as coronavirus cases continue to mount.
The city shut down both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a range of other businesses, at the start of the pandemic before gradually allowing them to reopen over the summer.
But stopping indoor dining will not be enough to reverse the infection rate, Ellerin said. Because 80% of the coronavirus clusters have been in peoples homes, he said, they should wear masks at home, as well as elsewhere, and everyone who can work from home should.
Because people need ventilation, they also should open windows about 6 inches when theyre in a room, Ellerin said, and they should think twice about having people with whom they dont live over for Thanksgiving.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said shutdowns or stay-at-home orders are not the solution.
What you have to do is look at whats driving the increase; is it restaurants, is it bars, is it sports activities? Adalja said. You can fix it. It always boils down to testing, tracing and isolating.
Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a Phoenix-based general surgeon and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, agreed that lockdowns are not the answer, nor, he added is micromanaging.
Its a fools errand to think that if you lock down long enough, the virus is going to disappear, Singer said. We should give people who run businesses the freedom to come up with their own solutions, based on CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. One size does not fit all. The more flexibility you have, the more compliance youre going to get.
But Ellerin said its unclear if individual behaviors will be enough to reverse the positivity rate.
This virus can be unforgiving and relentless, he said. We have to act aggressively now because before we blink, the positive test rate could be 10 to 15%. Everything should be on the table because we are going in the wrong direction. We have to starve this virus of fuel.
Sean Cotter contributed to this report.
Bostons COVID-19 positive test rate is a wildfire that is close to becoming an inferno if officials fail to take more precautions, according to one expert.
The citys positive test rate has doubled in a month and a half to 7.8%, and shows no sign of dropping.
And Boston is not alone. Last week, 121 of the states cities and towns more than a third of the 351 total Massachusetts municipalities are in the high-risk red zone.
7.8 % is a wildfire. Were getting close to an inferno, said Dr. Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. The time is now to take our foot completely off the accelerator and onto the brakes; otherwise the governor, his leadership team and the state Department of Public Health will be forced to put their foot on the emergency brake. It may already be too late to avoid that.
Boston Health Chief Marty Martinez told reporters on Friday that the city is considering stopping indoor dining or rolling back other restrictions as coronavirus cases continue to mount.
The city shut down both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a range of other businesses, at the start of the pandemic before gradually allowing them to reopen over the summer.
But stopping indoor dining will not be enough to reverse the infection rate, Ellerin said. Because 80% of the coronavirus clusters have been in peoples homes, he said, they should wear masks at home, as well as elsewhere, and everyone who can work from home should.
Because people need ventilation, they also should open windows about 6 inches when theyre in a room, Ellerin said, and they should think twice about having people with whom they dont live over for Thanksgiving.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said shutdowns or stay-at-home orders are not the solution.
What you have to do is look at whats driving the increase; is it restaurants, is it bars, is it sports activities? Adalja said. You can fix it. It always boils down to testing, tracing and isolating.
Dr. Jeffrey Singer, a Phoenix-based general surgeon and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, agreed that lockdowns are not the answer, nor, he added is micromanaging.
Its a fools errand to think that if you lock down long enough, the virus is going to disappear, Singer said. We should give people who run businesses the freedom to come up with their own solutions, based on CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. One size does not fit all. The more flexibility you have, the more compliance youre going to get.
But Ellerin said its unclear if individual behaviors will be enough to reverse the positivity rate.
This virus can be unforgiving and relentless, he said. We have to act aggressively now because before we blink, the positive test rate could be 10 to 15%. Everything should be on the table because we are going in the wrong direction. We have to starve this virus of fuel.
Sean Cotter contributed to this report.
1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 46.5 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at over 1.2 million.
Japan's largest airport has opened a COVID-19 testing facility for outbound passengers, who need proof they are virus-free when they arrive at their destination.
Oil prices have fallen more than 3%, as concerns grow about widening lockdowns in Europe.
Australia has reported no new COVID-19 cases in the community for the first time in 5 months.
UpLink is a digital platform to crowdsource innovations in an effort to address the worlds most pressing challenges.
It is an open platform designed to engage anyone who wants to offer a contribution for the global public good. The core objective is to link up the best innovators to networks of decision-makers, who can implement the change needed for the next decade. As a global platform, UpLink serves to aggregate and guide ideas and impactful activities, and make connections to scale-up impact.
Hosted by the World Economic Forum, UpLink is being designed and developed in collaboration with Salesforce, Deloitte and LinkedIn.
UpLink is now running the COVID Social Justice Challenge, which aims to tackle social inequalities and injustices within the COVID response and recovery.
Belgium has tightened restrictions on businesses and social life. From today, hairdressers and shops which provide non-essential services will be closed for six weeks. November's school holidays have also been extended by a week, while there are tighter rules for social contacts.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday that he'd been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The UK has passed the milestone of 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
People protesting against COVID-19 restrictions have clashed with police in some Spanish cities.
2. New lockdown in England
On Saturday evening, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new lockdown in England, as cases continue to rise.
From midnight on Thursday morning, people will only be allowed to leave their houses for specific reasons - education, work, exercise, shopping for essentials and caring for the vulnerable.
Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day, said Johnson.
Cases have risen rapidly across the UK.
Image: Our World in Data
Pubs and restaurants will close except for takeaways, and outbound international travel is discouraged. Schools and universities will remain open, and elite sport will continue.
It brings England into line with France and Germany, who have also announced national lockdowns.
3. WHO warns against 'natural herd immunity'
World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a warning about pursuing natural herd immunity, after speaking with patients struggling with long-term effects of COVID-19.
Their stories show people need time and care to recover, Tedros said.
"It also reinforces to me just how morally unconscionable and unfeasible the so-called natural herd immunity strategy is," he added.
"Not only would it lead to millions more unnecessary deaths, it would also lead to a significant number of people facing a long road to full recovery. Herd immunity is only possible with safe and effective vaccines that are distributed equitably around the world."
1. How COVID-19 is affecting the globe
Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have now passed 46.5 million globally, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The number of confirmed deaths stands at over 1.2 million.
Japan's largest airport has opened a COVID-19 testing facility for outbound passengers, who need proof they are virus-free when they arrive at their destination.
Oil prices have fallen more than 3%, as concerns grow about widening lockdowns in Europe.
Australia has reported no new COVID-19 cases in the community for the first time in 5 months.
UpLink is a digital platform to crowdsource innovations in an effort to address the worlds most pressing challenges.
It is an open platform designed to engage anyone who wants to offer a contribution for the global public good. The core objective is to link up the best innovators to networks of decision-makers, who can implement the change needed for the next decade. As a global platform, UpLink serves to aggregate and guide ideas and impactful activities, and make connections to scale-up impact.
Hosted by the World Economic Forum, UpLink is being designed and developed in collaboration with Salesforce, Deloitte and LinkedIn.
UpLink is now running the COVID Social Justice Challenge, which aims to tackle social inequalities and injustices within the COVID response and recovery.
Belgium has tightened restrictions on businesses and social life. From today, hairdressers and shops which provide non-essential services will be closed for six weeks. November's school holidays have also been extended by a week, while there are tighter rules for social contacts.
World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said yesterday that he'd been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
The UK has passed the milestone of 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases.
People protesting against COVID-19 restrictions have clashed with police in some Spanish cities.
2. New lockdown in England
On Saturday evening, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a new lockdown in England, as cases continue to rise.
From midnight on Thursday morning, people will only be allowed to leave their houses for specific reasons - education, work, exercise, shopping for essentials and caring for the vulnerable.
Unless we act, we could see deaths in this country running at several thousand a day, said Johnson.
Cases have risen rapidly across the UK.
Image: Our World in Data
Pubs and restaurants will close except for takeaways, and outbound international travel is discouraged. Schools and universities will remain open, and elite sport will continue.
It brings England into line with France and Germany, who have also announced national lockdowns.
3. WHO warns against 'natural herd immunity'
World Health Organization Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has issued a warning about pursuing natural herd immunity, after speaking with patients struggling with long-term effects of COVID-19.
Their stories show people need time and care to recover, Tedros said.
"It also reinforces to me just how morally unconscionable and unfeasible the so-called natural herd immunity strategy is," he added.
"Not only would it lead to millions more unnecessary deaths, it would also lead to a significant number of people facing a long road to full recovery. Herd immunity is only possible with safe and effective vaccines that are distributed equitably around the world."
MEMPHIS, Mo. (WGEM) -- Free COVID-19 testing will be coming to Scotland County, Missouri on Saturday, November 7th.
The drive-thru testing will be at the Health Department site at 214 West Madison Street in Memphis from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the National Guard.
This comes after local health officials have been warning the community of one in three people testing positive for the virus.
Scotland County public health administrator Lynette Vassholz said having access to more testing will help them get a better grip on the situation.
"That's where you can figure out exactly what you need to do," he said. "I mean, because it comes to a certain point where let's say 50 percent of our community is positive, we have a problem and we have to be proactive in trying to help that problem."
According to the Missouri Department of Health, Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms.
Vassholz said those interested must register online or call 877-435-8411 to register before arriving.
Registration is also open for Shelby County.
MEMPHIS, Mo. (WGEM) -- Free COVID-19 testing will be coming to Scotland County, Missouri on Saturday, November 7th.
The drive-thru testing will be at the Health Department site at 214 West Madison Street in Memphis from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. with the National Guard.
This comes after local health officials have been warning the community of one in three people testing positive for the virus.
Scotland County public health administrator Lynette Vassholz said having access to more testing will help them get a better grip on the situation.
"That's where you can figure out exactly what you need to do," he said. "I mean, because it comes to a certain point where let's say 50 percent of our community is positive, we have a problem and we have to be proactive in trying to help that problem."
According to the Missouri Department of Health, Missouri residency is the only requirement; individuals do not have to live in the county in which they are tested, and they do not have to be experiencing symptoms.
Vassholz said those interested must register online or call 877-435-8411 to register before arriving.
Registration is also open for Shelby County.
How does COVID-19 affect the heart?
Even though its known as a respiratory virus, doctors believe the coronavirus can directly infect the heart muscle and cause other problems leading to heart damage.
In some people, as COVID-19 decreases lung function, it may deprive the heart of adequate oxygen. Sometimes it causes an overwhelming inflammatory reaction that taxes the heart as the body tries to fight off the infection.
The virus can also invade blood vessels or cause inflammation within them, leading to blood clots that can cause heart attacks.
Clots throughout the body have been found in many COVID-19 patients. That has led some doctors to try blood thinners, although there is no consensus on that treatment.
Dr. Sean Pinney of the University of Chicago says people with heart disease are most at risk for virus-related damage to the heart. But heart complications also have been found in COVID-19 patients with no known previous disease.
A recent review in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology notes that evidence of heart involvement has been found in at least 25% of hospitalized coronavirus patients. At some centers, the rate is 30% or higher. And some studies have found elevated enzyme levels and other signs suggesting heart damage even in patients with milder disease. It is not known whether that damage is permanent.
One small study found evidence of the virus in the hearts of COVID-19 patients who died from pneumonia. Another, using heart imaging, found inflammation of the heart muscle in four college athletes who had recovered from mild COVID-19 infections. There were no images available from before the athletes got sick, and therefore no way to know if they had pre-existing heart problems.
Dr. Tom Maddox, an American College of Cardiology board member, says its unclear if the virus can cause a normal heart to become dysfunctional.
Theres still so much we dont know, Maddox said.
The coronavirus pandemic in Ohioisn't just getting worse; it's getting worse at an alarming rate. Unlike the state's previous spikes, this one is steep, and there are no signs of letting up.
COLUMBUS Heading into election week, the coronavirus pandemic in Ohioisn't just getting worse; it's getting worseat an alarming rate.
Unlike the state's previous spikes, this one is steep, and there are no signs of letting up.
Between Oct. 25 and Oct. 31, Ohio reported 18,828 new confirmed cases of COVID-19. It's the third week in a row the state has set a new weekly record.
On Oct. 30, the state set a sobering new record: 3,745 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in a single day.
If you dismiss the surge as a result of increased testing, you should take a closer look.
The state also set a new record for most hospitalizations in a single week; 1,126 Ohioans were hospitalized last week for COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the state's average test positivity rate has more thandoubled since mid-September. On Sept. 24, the seven-day positivity average hit a low of 2.7 percent. On Friday, the average was 6.7percent.
During his Thursday briefing, DeWine released an updated map for the state's Public Health Advisory System. There are now 43 counties in Level 3 "red" the most since the map was released. Just two counties are "yellow."
As of Thursday, 83 of Ohio's 88 counties are considered to have a high incidence of virus transmission; these arecounties thathave seen more than 100 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks.
"The virus is raging throughout the state of Ohio. There's no place to hide," DeWine said during his Thursday address. He also againurged Ohioans to rethink holiday plans.
While DeWine continues to beg Ohioans to don face coverings, he has begun to emphasize the role of personal responsibility in combatting the virus.
DeWine on Thursday said the state is relyingon Ohioans' sense of personal responsibility to slow the spread of coronavirus, rather than "mask police."
"Ohioans have been able to dramatically increase mask-wearing. We saw this back in July when we had a statewide mask order," resulting in 85 percent to 90 percent compliance in some areas, he said.
"When we saw that, we saw cases go down. We can do this again," DeWine said. "We don't have the ability to have 'mask police' everywhere. We rely on the goodwill of the people of the state of Ohio.
DeWine is also calling on local governments to "redouble" their efforts in combatting the virus.
In terms of stemming the spread locally,Mercy Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Jim Kravec said, for the most part, schools and businesses are already doing a great job. The issue lies in the public's perception of the pandemic, he said.
"Where I see opportunity is, really, a small percentage of the population that is not following the distancing and the masking," Kravec said. "Some people don't 'buy' what we're telling them. It's hard to get through to people that don't believe the message."
Mahoning County remains at"red" on thealert map and is also considered to have high incidence of coronavirus spread.The county reported 318 new cases in thelast twoweeks,139.06 new cases per capita.
The county now meets four of the state's seven risk indicators for coronavirus spread: new cases per capita; increasing numbers of new cases; the number of new cases occurring outside group settings such as long-term care or correctional facilities; and increasing outpatient visits for COVID-like illnesses.
Between late August and mid-September, Mahoning County saw the lowest-ever numbers of new cases and hospitalizations per day,according to Mahoning County Public Health's COVID-19 dashboard. Though new cases have skyrocketed the county marked its highest single-day total, 67 new cases, on Oct. 15 daily hospitalizations have remained in the single digits.
"I think we have capacity now. We actively monitor this every day and, really, the numbers on the Mahoning County dashboard are really the best indicators,"Kravec said. "As a level-1 trauma center, we are prepared for increased numbers.
"But we need to make sure we reduce the hospitalizations so we continue to keep room for the people who are sick."
ICU bed occupancy in Mahoning County has hovered between about 65percent and 75percent for weeks, according to ODH. That includes non-COVID patients.But the portion of COVID-19 patients in the ICU rose steadily from 5.5 percent on Oct. 14 to 12.6 percent on Oct. 26.
Mahoning County on Tuesday reported 78.5 percent ICU occupancy, nearly meeting the state's 80 percent riskthreshold under theOhio Public Health Advisory Systemmap.
Trumbull County was upgraded to "red" on Thursday and is considered a high incidence county. In the past two weeks, Trumbull County reported 232 new cases, 117.19 new cases per capita.
It meets four risk indicators: new cases per capita; increasing numbers of new cases; the number of new cases occurring outside group settings such as long-term care or correctional facilities; and increasing outpatient visits for COVID-like illnesses.
Columbiana Countyremained at "orange," but is also considered a high incidence county. In the past two weeks, Columbiana County reported 119 new cases, 116.80 cases per capita.
It meets three risk indicators:new cases per capita; the number of new cases occurring outside group settings such as long-term care or correctional facilities; and increasing outpatient visits for COVID-like illnesses.
The seven-day moving average for positive tests was 6.7percent on Friday, the highest since July 14 and more than double the average 2.7percent reported on Sept. 24, which was the lowest since the pandemic began. That average percent peaked on April 20 at 23.6 percent.
Here's a breakdown of how each complete week of the pandemic has looked likein Ohio so far. Data in bold reflect the peaks in new cases, deaths, hospitalizations andICU admissions.
March 15 to March 21
March 22 to March 28
March 29 to April 4
April 5 to April 11
April 12 to April 18
April 19 to April 25
April 26 to May 2
May 3 to May 9
May 10 to May 16
May 17 to May 23
May 24 to May 30
May 31 to June 6
June 7to June 13
June 14to June 20
June 21 to June 27
June 28 to July 4
July 5 to July 11
July 12 to July 18
July 19 to July 25
July 26 to Aug.1
Aug.2 to Aug.8
Aug. 9 to Aug. 15
Aug. 16 to Aug. 22
Aug. 23 to Aug. 29
Aug. 30 to Sept. 5
Sept. 6 to Sept. 12
Sept. 13 to Sept. 19
Sept. 20 to Sept. 26
Sept. 27 to Oct. 3
Oct. 4 to Oct. 10
Oct. 11 to Oct. 17
Oct. 18 to Oct. 24
Oct. 25 to Oct. 31
