Coronavirus Breaking News

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Dec 30, 2020 • 12:09 pm CST

UK's Coronavirus Variant Found 'Not Statistically Different'

The UK's Public Health England published Technical Briefing #2 on December 28, 2020, regarding the investigation of novel SARS-CoV-2 variant Variant of Concern 202012/01. A matched cohort study was undertaken to inform a preliminary assessment of hospitalization outcomes and case fatality associated with VOC 202012/01.

Of the 2,693 variant cases identified at the time of analysis, 1,769 variant cases with specimen dates between September 20, and December 15, 2020, were matched to 1,769 wild-type comparator cases and were included in this analysis. In reflection of the matching criteria, the median age of variant cases was 36 years and 35 for the wild-type cases.

The cohort study's preliminary results found 'no statistically significant difference in hospitalization and 28-day case fatality between cases with the variant (VOC 201212/01) and wild-type comparator cases. There was also no significant difference in the likelihood of reinfection between variant cases and the comparator group.'

PHE concluded: 'We currently have no evidence that the variant is more likely to cause severe disease or mortality, but we are continuing investigations to understand this better.'

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Dec 30, 2020 • 8:39 am CST

Europe Orders 100 Million Additional COVID-19 Vaccines

Germany based BioNTech SE and Pfizer, Inc. announced they would supply an additional 100 million doses of Comirnaty, the companies’ mRNA based COVID-19 Vaccine, to the 27 European Union (EU) member states in 2021. This agreement brings the total number of Comirnaty vaccine doses to the EU to 300 million.

Comirnaty will be produced in BioNTech’s and Pfizer’s manufacturing sites in Europe. The vaccine's distribution by the EU member states will continue to be determined according to the populations identified in EU, and national guidance said BioNTech on December 29, 2020.

The Pfizer-BioNTech developed COVID-19 Vaccine has been granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Medicines Agency to prevent COVID-19 in people from 16 years of age.

"Our goal remains to bring a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to as many people as we can all around the world,” commented Ugur Sahin, M.D., CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech.

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Dec 30, 2020 • 7:31 am CST

UK's COVID-19 Vaccine Authorized for 2021 Vaccinations

Cambridge based AstraZeneca announced its COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for emergency supply in the United Kingdom (UK), with the first doses being released today so that vaccinations may begin early in 2021.

The COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca, formerly known as AZD1222, is for the active immunization of individuals 18 years or older. The authorization recommends two doses administered with an interval of between four and 12 weeks.

Matt Hancock, UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said in a press release, “This is a moment to celebrate British innovation - not only are we responsible for discovering the first treatment to reduce mortality for COVID-19. This vaccine will be made available to some of the poorest regions of the world at a low cost, helping protect countless people from this awful disease."

"It is a tribute to the incredible UK scientists at Oxford University and AstraZeneca whose breakthrough will help to save lives around the world."

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Karen McClorey Hackett

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Robert Carlson, MD

Dec 29, 2020 • 8:23 pm CST

Moderna Offers Free COVID-19 Vaccinations to its Company

Moderna, Inc. announced late on December 29, 2020, 'To provide an additional layer of disease protection as Moderna workers conduct essential services in developing, manufacturing and delivering a COVID-19 vaccine, Moderna is making its experimental COVID-19 vaccine available to its workers, contractors, and board members in the USA under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

Additionally, 'the program will extend to our team's adult household members to reduce the risk of absenteeism and disruption due to a COVID-19 infection in an adult household member. Participation in the program is confidential and entirely voluntary.'

To ensure full transparency, the 'Company notified appropriate health authorities about the program in advance and will participate in all relevant monitoring and reporting obligations under the EUA.'

Previously, the U.S. FDA issued a EUA on December 11, 2020, for Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. for use in individuals 18 years of age and older.

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Dec 29, 2020 • 5:06 pm CST

Colorado Confirms Coronavirus Variant Case

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced on December 29, 2020, the first case of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variant B.1.1.7 in Elbert County, which is located southeast of Denver. The individual is a male in his 20s, has no travel history, and has no close contacts identified. Still, Colorado public health officials are working to identify other potential cases and contacts through thorough contact tracing interviews.

Jill Hunsaker Ryan, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, stated in a press release, “We are currently using all the tools available to protect public health and mitigate the spread of this variant.”

The original virus strain, detected in Wuhan, China, during December 2019, was the L virus strain. The virus then mutated into the S strain at the beginning of 2020. V and G strains were followed by Strain G mutated yet further into strains GR, GH, and GV. Several other infrequent mutations were collectively grouped as strain O.

This is the same virus variant initially confirmed in the United Kingdom (UK) on December 21, 2020. Scientists have reported the B.1.1.7 variant to be more contagious than previously identified strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The U.S. CDC stated on December 28, 2020, 'Since November 2020, the UK has reported a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and has been linked to a different version—or variant—of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As new information becomes available, the CDC will provide updates.'

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Dec 29, 2020 • 3:45 pm CST

South Korea Discusses Purchasing 40 Million COVID-19 Vaccines

Massachusettes-based Moderna, Inc. confirmed it is in discussions with South Korea's government to potentially provide 40 million or more doses of the experimental Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (mRNA-1273). Under the terms of the proposed agreement, vaccine distribution would begin in the second quarter of 2021.

The Moderna COVID‑19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the US FDA but was authorized for emergency use by the FDA on December 18, 2020.

The FDA stated on December 20th; people should not get the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine if they had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or have a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of this vaccine.

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Dec 29, 2020 • 1:06 pm CST

China Survey Reports 'Low Level of COVID-19 Infection'

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) recently organized a national seroepidemiological survey and analysis of the new coronary pneumonia. This survey aimed to understand the situation of the general population of the new crown pneumonia in areas with different levels of prevalence.

The investigation found that the positive rate of new crown antibodies in the community population in Wuhan, China, (11 million pop.) was 4.43%. The positive rate of antibodies in other cities and prefectures in Hubei province was 0.44%. Among more than 12,000 people in six provinces outside Hubei, only 2 cases of antibody-positive were detected, and the positive rate was extremely low.

The survey results published on December 28, 2020, show that 'the population of China is generally at a low level of infection, indicating that the epidemic control with Wuhan had been successful and effectively prevented the large-scale spread of the COVID-19 epidemic,' stated the announcement.

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Dec 29, 2020 • 12:28 pm CST

US Military Confirms Over 100,000 COVID-19 Cases; Launches Virtual Care

The US Department of Defense (DOD) reported on December 28, 2020, about 104,000 active-duty personnel have been diagnosed with COVID-19 this year. The vast majority of these cases have recovered, with only 14 fatalities related to COVID-19 confirmed.

Recently, Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) patients in Texas enrolled in a COVID-19 Remote Monitoring Program, a joint effort with the Virtual Medical Center. The program equips COVID-19 patients needing additional monitoring with a home health care kit and 24/7 oversight from registered nurses to ensure a higher post-hospital care level.

"This is an exciting and unique new capability," said Army Maj. Daniel Yourk, deputy director for operations, Virtual Medical Center. "We can move our patients from an inpatient to a home setting with round-the-clock monitoring and reach-back care."

The pilot concept, first developed by the Virtual Medical Center and BAMC, now spans the various military services and the nation.

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Dec 29, 2020 • 9:49 am CST

Germany Confirms Coronavirus Variant's Arrival

The Medical University of Hanover (MHH) determined the virus variant B1.1.7 retrospectively in a case of infection from November 2020, the German Ministry of Health announced. The reference laboratory of the Berlin Charité confirmed the result, reported Welt.de on December 28, 2020.

In Germany, virus variant B1.1.7 was also found in a woman who flew from London to Frankfurt on December 20th.

The first case of the SARS-CoV-2 variant has been traced back to September 2020 in the south of England by the UK health system. This indicates there was ample time for it to mutated virus to spread undetected around the world. As of December 29th, more than 20 countries and territories have confirmed cases of the highly-infectious virus variant.

The U.S. CDC stated on December 28, 2020, 'Recent reports indicate that the new variant causes about 6 in 10 cases reported in London. Genetic analysis of the new variant shows changes to the virus's spikes and other parts of the virus. Initial studies suggest that the new variant may spread more easily from person to person. So far, scientists in the UK see no evidence that infections by this variant cause more severe disease.'

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Karen McClorey Hackett

Dec 29, 2020 • 9:19 am CST

USA Purchases Another 100 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses

The US Department of Defense announced on December 29, 2020; it had awarded Moderna, Inc. a contract worth $1,966,598,000 for an additional 100 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273). Moderna is expected to be fulfilled this purchase order by June 30, 2021, reported BioSpace.

Previously, on December 11, 2020, the U.S. government exercised its option to acquire an additional 100 million vaccine doses, which brought the total purchases up to 200 million. US Health Secretary Alex Azar stated: “This new federal purchase can give Americans even greater confidence we will have enough supply to vaccinate all Americans who want it by the second quarter of 2021.”

The Moderna COVID‑19 vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the U.S. FDA, under an Emergency Use Authorization, to prevent severe COVID‑19 for use in individuals 18 years of age and older, on December 18, 2020. The experimental mRNA vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the FDA.

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Dec 28, 2020 • 7:55 pm CST

Hospital Air Infrequently Contaminated With Viral Coronavirus

A systematic review of 24 observational studies published in JAMA Network Open on December 24, 2020, there were few (8.6%) samples found containing viable SARS-CoV-2 viruses in the air close to hospitalized patients.

'The presence of viable viruses should be primarily considered, given that it is a required link for the potential of cross-transmission. The available data suggest that COVID-19 requires particular conditions to be transmitted through the air,' said these researchers.

The study authors identify a 'wide variability in the air sampling methods and poorly detailed climatic conditions can affect the capacity for viral particles to remain suspended in the air.'

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Dec 28, 2020 • 4:24 pm CST

Is the New Coronavirus Variant More Infectious?

According to the British Medical Journal on December 23, 2020, a review by Elisabeth Mahase of the current evidence by the UK’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), found that the rate of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus variant, known as B.1.1.7 or VUI 202012/01, was 71% (95% confidence interval 67% to 75%), which is higher than for other known variants.

And, the NERVTAG report on December 18, 2020, stated this variant is defined by 14 mutations resulting in amino acid changes and three deletions, some of which are believed to influence the virus’s transmissibility in humans and may also have a higher viral load.

'While previous variants have emerged without clear evidence of having a selective advantage, the NERVTAG report noted, the “emergence and subsequent dominance” of this new variant in a period of relatively high prevalence indicated that it does have a “selective advantage over other variants.”

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Dec 28, 2020 • 1:23 pm CST

COVID-19 Rates Appear to be Declining

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on December 28, 2020, surveillance indicators tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation and associated illnesses declined slightly or remained stable during the week ending December 12, 2020. And the percentage of deaths due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC) has been increasing since October.

'While overall weekly hospitalization rates reached their highest point since the beginning of the pandemic within the past month, rates for the most recent weeks appear to be declining,' said the CDC.

Nationally, of 2,940,118 specimens tested for SARS-CoV-2 for diagnostic purposes, 12.2% were positive. 'This is a decrease compared with the previous week, during which 13.4% of specimens tested were positive,' says the CDC.

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Dec 28, 2020 • 6:19 am CST

Canada Confirms 4th Coronavirus Variant Case

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, and Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, stated on December 27, 2020, announcing the first confirmed case of a person in B.C. infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus variant first identified in the United Kingdom:

“The individual, who resides in the Island Health region, returned to B.C. from the U.K. on flight AC855 on Dec. 15, 2020. Testing confirmed the positive diagnosis on Dec. 19, 2020; a small number of close contacts have been isolated, and public health follows them daily.

“The BC Centre detected the variant strain for Disease Control (BCCDC) Public Health Laboratory in its review of all isolates from people who had recently returned from travel to the U.K. Whole genome sequencing at the BCCDC identified this as the same as the variant seen in the U.K. Ongoing review might identify additional cases in the coming days.

“It is important to note there is no evidence that the new coronavirus variant is more likely to cause severe illness, nor is there evidence to suggest the Health Canada-approved vaccines will be any less effective against the new variant."

The Government of Canada continues to advise against non-essential travel to other countries and advise extra caution if you must travel to the UK or South Africa. Restrictions are changing quickly and may be imposed by countries with little warning, disrupting travel plans.

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