The coronavirus disease COVID-19 is currently reaching pandemic levels in various countries.
Based on mortality surveillance data available on October 8, 2020, the U.S. CDC reported 7.0% of the fatalities occurring during the week ending October 3, 2020 (week #40) were due to pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC).
This PIC percentage is above the epidemic threshold of 5.6% for week #40, which may change as additional data is aggregated.
The BNO Newsroom reported on Twitter that as of October 9, 2020, Iran's deputy health minister: 'Due to the large number of coronavirus outpatients and patients, hospitalization of non-emergency patients is not allowed until further notice.'
According to the BBC reporting on October 7, 2020, Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said Iran's total of coronavirus related fatalities since February has reached 27,658, and the number of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases is now 483,844.
On September 25, 2020, the Russian Direct Investment Fund said it is in talks with a number of countries, including Iran, about the possibility of locally-producing the Sputnik-V vaccine to reduce the number of coronavirus infections.
A coronavirus study focused on the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) published by the NEJM on October 7, 2020, found a combination of recombinant interferon beta-1b and lopinavir–ritonavir led to lower mortality than placebo among patients who had been hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed MERS. The effect was greatest when treatment was started within 7-days after symptom onset.
As of September 1, 2020, the ECDC reported (61) MERS-CoV cases have been reported in Saudi Arabia (57), United Arab Emirates (2), and Qatar (1), including 20 fatalities in Saudi Arabia. From these cases, 50 were primary cases, 16 of whom reported contact with camels, and 11 were healthcare-acquired cases.
On October 8, 2020, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced the world's most populous country has signed an agreement with GAVI, the co-leader of the COVAX alliance.
Hua stated: 'We are taking this concrete step to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines, especially to developing countries, and hope more capable countries will also join and support COVAX. And, China will continue to work together with COVAX partners and contribute its share to the global fight against the pandemic to safeguard all human beings' safety and health.'
China has several COVID-19 vaccine candidates in late-stages of development, which are included on this list.
The U.S. FDA updated the dashboard on the Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program webpage. As of September 30, 2020, there were 550+ drug development programs were in planning stages, 350+ trials were reviewed by FDA, and (5) COVID-19 treatments are currently authorized for emergency use.
On October 8, 2020, the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced it confirmed there are several dead mink at a Taylor County mink farm located in Wisconsin that have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in humans. This is the first confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection among Wisconsin's mink population.
Wisconsin is the 2nd US state with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 at a mink farm; Utah confirmed its first cases on August 17, 2020.
There is currently no evidence that animals, including mink, play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2 to humans. However, the NVSL's statement says 'People suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19 are encouraged to avoid contact with pets and other animals while they are completing their home isolation to protect the animals from infection.'
A cross-sectional study of children hospitalized with COVID-19 in China, published by JAMA on August 26, 2020, presented with a series of onset symptoms including fever, cough, and ocular manifestations, such as conjunctival discharge, eye rubbing, and conjunctival congestion. This study found that 23% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients had conjunctival discharge, congestion, and eye rubbing.
This means those COVID-19 patients with systemic coronavirus symptoms or cough were most likely to have ocular symptoms, known as 'pink eye.'
Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan unveiled on October 8, 2020, a commitment of US$ 130 million to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a financing mechanism that will reserve and accelerate safe and efficient vaccines against COVID-19 to countries across the Global South.
A new press statement by Columbia University in New York on October 6, 2020, found patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were more likely male, younger, and, in both the US and Spain, had fewer comorbidities and lower medication use than hospitalized influenza patients, according to a recent study published by the Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics community.
The co-lead author Dr. Edward Burn stated in this press release: "Despite recent discourse around the supposed poor health and limited life expectancy of COVID-19 patients, we see COVID-19 patients to be in no worse health than those typically hospitalized with influenza."
And, 'while protecting groups vulnerable to influenza is likely a useful starting point in the response to COVID-19, strategies will likely need to be broadened to reflect the particular characteristics of individuals being hospitalized with COVID-19.'
A new Walgreens survey conducted online in August 2020 by The Harris Poll, reveals that for many, the COVID-19 pandemic has created urgency around getting this year’s flu vaccine.
The Walgreens survey announced on October 8, 2020, showed that 32% of all U.S. adults say they are more likely to get a flu shot this year than in previous years. Most survey respondents want to do 'everything they can to stay healthy during the pandemic (61%).'
The U.S. FDA has authorized influenza vaccines for the 2020-2021 flu season, which are listed on this PrecisionVaccinations webpage.
New Jersey-based Johnson & Johnson announced on October 8, 2020, the European Commission (EC), acting on behalf of the European Union (EU) Member States, has approved an Advance Purchase Agreement in which the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies will supply 200 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate to EU Member States following approval or authorization from regulators.
According to this press statement, the EC has an option to purchase an additional 200 million vaccine doses of Ad26.COV2-S (JNJ-78436735).
On October 8, 2020, England based The Sun exclusively reported 'leaked documents reveal NHS officials are hopeful that 2 coronavirus vaccines will prove successful before the end of 2020. And, plans are already well underway to ensure they can be delivered to those who need them most.
The first mass vaccination centers in the UK are planned for sites in major cities including Leeds, Hull, and London.
The number of fatalities mentioning COVID-19 on the death certificate has risen in the UK for the third consecutive week, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics. There were 234 deaths involving the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus registered in the week ending September 25, 2020.
Italy's Premier Giuseppe Conte's cabinet met on October 7, 2020, to extend the COVID-19 state of emergency until January 31, 2020, which gives special powers to governors and other public bodies, making it possible, for example, to create 'red zones' sealing off areas where a coronavirus outbreak has occurred, reported Ansa.
The new measures include the obligation to wear facemasks outside and in all enclosed spaces, except when at home, sources said.
As of September 1, 2020, the U.S. CDC 'recommends people avoid all nonessential international travel to Italy. Travelers are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to Italy.'
Indiana-based Eli Lilly announced on October 7, 2020, that it had submitted a request for emergency use authorization (EUA) for the LY-CoV555 monotherapy to U.S. FDA. Lilly made this EUA request based on new data that shows the combination therapy met primary and secondary endpoints, reducing viral load, symptoms, and hospitalizations.
Daniel Skovronsky, M.D., Ph.D., Lilly's chief scientific officer and president of Lilly Research Laboratories, stated in a press release: "We believe the data generated to date provide sufficient evidence that both monotherapy and combination therapy may be effective to treat COVID-19 in patients with a high risk for serious outcomes. Lilly is diligently working with regulators around the world to make these treatments available."
Lilly also stated it 'plans to initiate a large open-label pragmatic study in COVID-19 outpatients in October 2020.'
France's government reported about 18,746 new coronavirus cases on October 7, 2020, the biggest 1-day increase during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Furthermore, the number of patients in a hospital rose to 7,536.
In response to this new data, Le Monde reported Emmanuel Macron considered that it is necessary to go towards "more restrictions" in places where the COVID-19 "circulates too fast", like those put in place in Bouches-du-Rhône and Paris, but ruled out travel restrictions.
