Coronavirus Breaking News

The coronavirus disease COVID-19 is currently reaching pandemic levels in various countries.

Sep 12, 2020 • 3:55 pm CDT

Outside is Best When Dining Out

A new study published by the U.S. CDC on September 11, 2020, found going to locations that offer on-site eating and drinking options were associated with increased COVID-19 positivity. And adults with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results were approximately 2x as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than were those with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results.

This new finding and several previous studies, such as from the Mayo Clinic, indicate that when eating out during the coronavirus pandemic, selecting an outside table is a healthy choice.

On September 6, 2020, the CDC updated its recommendations for restaurants and patrons on innovative tactics to reduce the spreading of the coronavirus.

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Karen McClorey Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 12, 2020 • 11:17 am CDT

Coronavirus Vaccine Study Expands Participants and Diversity

Germany based BioNTech SE and Pfizer announced on September 12, 2020, they have submitted a request to expand the enrollment of their Phase 3 pivotal vaccine trial for BNT162b2, to up to 44,000 participants, and increase the study's diversity to include adolescents as young as 16 years of age and people with chronic, stable HIV, Hepatitis C, or Hepatitis B infection.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 12, 2020 • 10:23 am CDT

Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate AZD1222 Resumes Phase 3 Study

AstraZeneca announced on September 12, 2020, that late-stage clinical trials for the coronavirus vaccine candidate, AZD1222, have resumed in the United Kingdom (UK) following confirmation by the Medicines Health Regulatory Authority that it was safe to do so.

AstraZeneca's press statement indicated the University of Oxford, as the trial sponsor, cannot disclose further medical information. And the trial investigators and participants will be updated with the relevant information.

Furthermore, this news will be disclosed on global clinical registries, according to the clinical trial and regulatory standards. While phase 3 trials can now resume in the U.K., the status of trials around the world remains unclear, as of 11:00 EST.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 12, 2020 • 9:43 am CDT

MMR Vaccination May Protect People From Coronavirus Infection

Doctors and scientists announced on September 3, 2020, they are launching a Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate whether the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can protect healthcare workers against infection from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This trial aims to enroll up to 30,000 healthcare workers around the world.

“We know that the MMR vaccine is safe, and we think there are two main reasons that it could prevent COVID-19,” said one of the collaborative’s principal investigators, Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, in a press statement.

“The first is this vaccine includes small amounts of live but very weakened MMR viruses. This type of vaccine appears to strengthen the body’s immune response to infections in general, not just to the viruses in that particular vaccine.”

A 2nd reason the MMR vaccine may be effective is that there are similarities between the weakened viruses in the vaccine and the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. All of these viruses have similar proteins on their surfaces that are involved in infecting cells in the body, so the researchers think that antibodies made in response to the MMR vaccine also may recognize and fight off the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

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Don Ward Hackett

Sep 12, 2020 • 9:07 am CDT

Enhance Screening Ends For Arriving Air Passengers

Beginning September 14, 2020, the U.S. Government (USG) will remove requirements for directing all flights carrying airline passengers arriving from, or recently had a presence in, certain countries to land at one of 15 airports and halt enhanced health screening for these arriving international passengers.

Currently, enhanced entry health screening is conducted for those arriving from, or with recent presence in, China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau), Iran, the Schengen region of Europe, most of the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Brazil.

The USG stated on September 9, 2020, it ‘has a better understanding of COVID-19 transmission that indicates symptom-based screening has limited effectiveness because people with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or fever at the time of screening, or only mild symptoms.'

Internation travelers can review the latest travel-vaccine news at Vax-Before-Travel.

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Karen McClorey Hackett

Sep 12, 2020 • 7:16 am CDT

NYC Reports Significant Decrease in Coronavirus Cases and Fatalities

According to data published in the New York City.gov website on September 11, 2020, the city has experienced a significant decrease in the number of SARS-CoV-2 virus cases and COVID-19 pneumonia-related fatalities over the past week.

Over the past week, NYC's Health Department reported a 7.7% decrease in weekly coronavirus cases, and a 8.6% decrease in new COVID-19 deaths.

Furthermore, the number of fatalities reported for the 0-17 age group remains De minimis.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 12, 2020 • 5:49 am CDT

Russia Ships Sputnik V Vaccine

The Russian News Agency TASS reported on September 12, 2020, "The first batch of Sputnik V vaccine has been shipped to the regions of the Russian Federation... for citizens from the high-risk group," the health ministry’s spokesperson said.

The Sputnik V vaccine is designed to protect people from the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19 pneumonia, and was developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology of the Russian Healthcare Ministry. Sputnik V is a vector vaccine based on adenovirus DNA, in which the new coronavirus gene is integrated to stimulate immune responses.

On September 9, 2020, TASS reported Russian Healthcare Minister Mikhail Murashko announced that Phase 3 of clinical trials of the vaccine had started in Russia.

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Don Ward Hackett

Sep 11, 2020 • 1:55 pm CDT

COVID-19, Pneumonia, and Influenza Fatalities Decreased 33%

In the USA, the percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus decreased from 5.5% during week #35 to 5.1% during week #36. reported the U.S. CDC on September 11, 2020.

And, based on death certificate data, the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza, or COVID-19 (PIC) for week #36 is 6.3%. This is currently lower than the percentage during week #35 (9.5%). However, the percentage will likely increase as more death certificates are processed, says the CDC.

This new data indicates a 33% reduction in (PIC) related fatalities ... in just 1-week.

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Don Ward Hackett

Sep 11, 2020 • 12:02 pm CDT

Unionized Nursing Homes Report Fewer COVID-19 Related Fatalities

On September 10, 2020, a study published in Health Affairs reported about 43% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) fatalities in the USA have occurred in nursing homes, led by the state of New York. As a result, healthcare workers' access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control policies in nursing homes have received increased attention.

This study confirmed a 30% relative decrease in the COVID-19 mortality rate compared between facilities without healthcare worker unions. And, unions members were associated with greater access to PPE, one mechanism that may link unions to lower COVID-19 mortality rates.

Some 70% of America’s long-term care facilities are run by for-profit companies, including private investment firms, reported the NYTimes.

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Don Ward Hackett

Sep 11, 2020 • 4:45 am CDT

94 Million Coronavirus Tests Completed in the USA

The U.S. CDC's COVID Data Tracker newly published data indicates there have been over 94 million diagnostic tests, excluding antibody, and antigen tests, performed to confirm if a person has a SARS-CoV-2 infection during 2020.

The new data indicate the USA has an overall infection positivity rate of 8%, as of September 10, 2020.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 11, 2020 • 4:24 am CDT

Central America Needs Additional PPE

In response to the increase in SARS-CoV-2 virus cases and fatalities related to COVID-19 pneumonia among healthcare workers in the Region of the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) urged Member States on August 31, 2020, to strengthen the capacity of healthcare services across all levels and to equip healthcare workers with appropriate resources to respond to the ongoing pandemic.

Sustained human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 has been reported in most of the Region of the Americas; in addition, transmission in the healthcare setting has also been reported.

Healthcare workers can be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 through unprotected contact with infected patients or through contact with other infected healthcare workers. Exposure in the healthcare services context could be due to non-compliance with infection prevention and control standards, inappropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and/or the lack of or inadequate PPE, stated the PAHO/WHO.

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Don Ward Hackett

Sep 11, 2020 • 3:44 am CDT

China's Nasal Spray Coronavirus Vaccine Starts Phase 1 Study

China's only nasal spray vaccine against the novel coronavirus is expected to start phase I clinical trials in November 2020, reported Global Times on September 10, 2020. The nasal spray vaccine uses a live attenuated influenza vaccine. This nasal spray vaccine candidate is a collaborative effort between the University of Hong Kong, Xiamen University, and Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy.

This coronavirus nasal spray vaccine candidate has been approved by China's National Medical Products Administration. China has approved 10 coronavirus vaccines for clinical trials, including inactivated vaccines, adenoviral vector-based vaccines, and DNA and mRNA vaccines.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Robert Carlson, MD

Sep 10, 2020 • 3:50 pm CDT

France's Leaders Debate Tough Decisions as Coronavirus Cases Continue

According to data released late on September 10, 2020, the country of France is experiencing a significant surge in SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus cases, as well as COVID-19 pneumonia-related fatalities. As of 5 PM in Paris, France reported 30,813 fatalities during the 2020 pandemic.

"The French government may have to take "a certain number of tough decisions," stated Scientific Council head Jean-Francois Delfraissy during an online news briefing, reported France24. "France is now at a worrying level which is not far behind Spain, with a lag of maybe 2-weeks, and much more severe than that of Italy."

There was the danger of a "very rapid, exponential rise" in some places, singling out the French Riviera and Provence region. Delfraissy, meanwhile, spoke out against closures of bars and bans on crowds, saying "that is not going to solve the problem".

To notify international travelers of their potential health risks, the U.S. CDC issued a Level 3 Travel Alert on August 6, 2020, saying 'Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and should consider postponing all travel, including essential travel, to France.'

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Robert Carlson, MD

Sep 10, 2020 • 3:21 pm CDT

England's Rule of 6 Limits Socializing

'If you meet socially in groups of more than 6, you will be dispersed, fined, and possibly arrested by the police,' Tweeted @MattHancock, the United Kingdom (UK) Secretary of State for Health & Social Care. Hancock's statement refers to September 9, 2020, announced of new measures to suppress the spreading of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and keep the number of COVID-19 infections down.

Beginning September 14, 2020, 'you must not meet with people from other households socially in groups of more than 6. This will apply indoors and outdoors, including in private homes,' stated the UK government. Furthermore, sports events will be limited to smaller, safer numbers, with strict conditions to ensure social distancing, and will not take place in areas where virus incidence is high.'

These new pandemic measures apply to England, but there may be different rules if you live in an area under local lockdown and you should check those rules here. If you are in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, different rules may apply. Each of the 4 governments has now published its own roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions, which can be viewed at this link.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN

Sep 10, 2020 • 2:10 pm CDT

India Halts Coronavirus Vaccine's Late Stage Study

Serum Institute of India (SII) stated it has 'decided to halt ongoing clinical trials in India of the COVID-19 vaccine candidate AZD1222 until AstraZeneca restarts its own global trials of the vaccine, reported India Express on September 10, 2020. AstraZeneca announced it is currently evaluating this vaccine candidate's clinical efficacy.

Serum, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume (1.5 billion doses), previously announced on August 7, 2020, that it had entered into partnerships to accelerate the manufacture and delivery of up to 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for India and low- and middle-income countries.

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Don Ward Hackett

Medical Review by

Danielle Reiter, RN