Featured Headlines
For the first time, U.S. sees 100,000 new cases in one day – NBC News
The number of new coronavirus cases recorded in a single day in the United States topped 100,000 for the first time Wednesday, setting a record in the monthslong pandemic, NBC News data show.
On Thursday the United States hit an all-time high for new cases of COVID-19 for the second day in a row, reaching more than 120,000 diagnoses after surpassing 100,000 for the first time on Wednesday.
Covid-19 hospitalizations soar, causing fears that death rates will climb soon – CNN
As nationwide coronavirus cases soar, the number of hospitalized Americans is also climbing, and experts warn that could lead to a rise in deaths.
The United States has more than 53,000 Covid-19 patients, according to the COVID Tracking Project.
Telework Before Illness Onset Among Symptomatic Adults Aged ≥18 Years With and Without COVID-19 in 11 Outpatient Health Care Facilities — United States, July 2020 – CDC
Why COVID-19 Might Get Worse in Winter, Just Like Flu – MedPageToday
Grandma’s adage that you can catch the flu from the cold weather is not without merit. This association is undoubtedly evident for COVID-19, whose incidence is predicted to continue to increase exponentially as winter approaches.
ECDC to assess risk associated with spread of SARS-CoV-2 in mink farms – ECDC
When the virus is introduced into a mink farm, it can spread quickly, leading to many cases among mink. Due to the large number of infections and possibly due to biological differences between mink and humans, the virus can accumulate mutations. Such variants have the possibility to spread back into the human population.
Parts Of Northern Denmark On Lockdown Over Coronavirus Variant Outbreak In Minks – NPR
Denmark is putting over a quarter of a million of residents on lockdown after discovering coronavirus outbreaks among bred minks, including a mutated strain.
Travel on Thanksgiving? Pass the COVID – Kaiser News
Molly Wiese was truly stumped. Her parents and siblings live in Southern California, and Wiese, a 35-year-old lawyer, has returned home every Christmas since she moved to Minnesota in 2007. Because of the pandemic, Wiese thought it would be wiser to stay put for once. But in June, Wiese’s father was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and they feared this could be his final holiday season.
First It Was Masks; Now Some Refuse Testing for SARS-CoV-2 – JAMA
In the pandemic’s early weeks, when a shortage of tests meant that mainly hospitalized patients were being tested, the demand was greater than the supply. Months later, laboratories have greater testing capacity, but in some states, testing rates have dropped as cases have increased.
Dining bubbles are popping up everywhere, but are they safe? Experts weigh in. – Washington Post
Whatever you call them, the clear, igloo-like structures have started popping up in U.S. cities where colder weather threatens the outdoor dining that restaurants have turned to in their attempt to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
Clinical Considerations
COVID-Related Strokes Especially Severe, Result in Worse Outcomes – MedPageToday
Ischemic strokes in COVID-19 patients tended to be more severe than those in other individuals, according to a case-control study from the U.K.
Official Reporting for November 6, 2020
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update November 6, 2020 (Last Updated)
Confirmed Cases: 48,534,508
Deaths: 1,231,017
ECDC
Confirmed Cases: 48 763 203
Deaths: 1 234 371
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 49,237,148
Deaths: 1,241,378
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 9,581,770
Total deaths: 234,264
Surveillance Headlines
UNITED STATES
US: Coronavirus cases at U.S. colleges have hit a quarter million. – NYT
Alaska: Hit hardest by COVID-19, Alaska’s Pacific Islanders face death and severe illness at an alarming rate – Alaska Public Media
Texas: Poised to hit 1 million Covid-19 cases, the most in the nation – NBC
EUROPE
Italy: Italy imposes regional lockdown as Europe battles surges – BBC
UK & Greece: England begins a new lockdown, and Greece will soon follow – NYT
France: France Posts Record New Virus Cases as Minister Warns of ‘Violent’ Second Wave – Bloomberg
Science and Tech
Virus that causes COVID-19 puts a plug in cellular defenses – Science Daily
One of the novel coronavirus’ most insidious tricks is that it can block the ability of cells to produce protective proteins without hindering its own ability to replicate.
Enzyme targeted by virus also influences gut inflammation – Science Daily
An enzyme that helps COVID-19 (coronavirus) infect the body also plays a role in inflammation and patient outcomes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study. The findings raise the possibility that anti-inflammatory drug therapies for IBD may aid recovery from coronavirus.
Diagnostics
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first serology test that detects neutralizing antibodies from recent or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, which are antibodies that bind to a specific part of a pathogen and have been observed in a laboratory setting to decrease SARS-CoV-2 viral infection of cells. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the cPass SARS-CoV-2 Neutralization Antibody Detection Kit, which specifically detects this type of antibody.
Therapeutics
Fauci, NIAID Look to Past to Inform Future of COVID-19 Therapies – MedPageToday
In developing therapeutic agents for COVID-19, researchers learned from the lessons of past viruses, from HIV to Ebola to even flu, experts at an NIH webinar said. Clinical agents in development for SARS-CoV-2 include antivirals and host targeted/immunomodulators, as well as neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. And randomized trials are still the best way to determine whether they work, experts said.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
None Today
Published Research
Cross-reactive neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 by serum antibodies from recovered SARS patients and immunized animals – Science
Surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic – The Lancet
Pre-Print Studies
None Today
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Managing the COVID-19 vaccine infodemic – The Lancet
If you read News Punch (aka “Where mainstream fears to tread”), you will be familiar with a series of articles about the prospects for a COVID-19 vaccine. With headlines such as “Big Pharma Exec: We Are Exempt From COVID-19 Vaccine Liability Claims”, the website has published report after report casting doubt on the integrity of vaccine science and even the likelihood of a vaccine becoming available. You will find similar pieces on other websites, such as Infowars and AlterNet. The arguments these articles peddle seem deliberately designed to sow uncertainty. Elon Musk is alleged to have said that he won’t allow his children to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Executives from one vaccine manufacturer are alleged to have sold “millions in stock as Covid vaccine trials enter phase 3”. Doctors are accused of demanding the US Government punish Americans who refuse a COVID-19 vaccine. These stories may be having an effect. Last month, Nature Medicine published the results of a survey describing the views of over 13 000 people across 19 countries. 14·2% of the respondents completely or somewhat disagreed with the statement that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine if generally available. 17·9% completely or somewhat disagreed with the statement that they would accept a COVID-19 vaccine if their employer recommended it. In many countries, vaccine hesitancy is sufficiently high to render community immunity a challenging goal. The survey suggests that far too little has been done to prepare the public for the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine.