Featured Headlines
Dr. Fauci Says The Risks From The Delta Variant Underscore The Importance Of Vaccines – NPR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that the variant of coronavirus first detected in India is a variant of concern, meaning it poses a significant threat to those who are not vaccinated.
Health officials are pouring their effort into convincing those still hesitant to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but none of the strategies appear to be a “Hail Mary pass” to get the US to reach President Joe Biden’s vaccination goal and curb spreading variants.
Delta Variant Of The Coronavirus Could Dominate In U.S. Within Weeks – NPR
The dangerous Delta variant of the coronavirus is spreading so quickly in the United States that it’s likely the mutant strain will become predominant in the U.S. within weeks, according to a new analysis.
US COVID-19 cases continue to fall—as do vaccinations – CIDRAP
The daily number of new COVID-19 cases continues to drop across the country, to tallies not seen since 15 months ago, when the pandemic began. But new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that young adult vaccine uptake is below that of older adults.
Wuhan Lab Hypothesis or Animal-Human Leap? Hunt for Covid-19’s Origins – WSJ Video
More than a year into the pandemic, scientists are still debating Covid-19’s origins. WSJ breaks down key events in three locations in China – a seafood market, a lab and a mine – to piece together how the global health crisis might have started.
What We Know About the Delta Coronavirus Variant – The Atlantic
A new variant of the coronavirus is raising alarms globally. What does it mean for Americans? The bad news: Delta, a scary new variant of the coronavirus, is spreading both stateside and abroad. The good news: In the matchup between vaccines and variants, the vaccines remain ahead for now.
Many Parts of the U.S. Needed Persuading to Get Vaccinated. Not South Texas. – NYT
In the Rio Grande Valley, it is people’s exposure to death and disease, not offers of free beer or million-dollar prizes, that is driving vaccine rates higher.
How Immunity Generated from COVID-19 Vaccines Differs from an Infection – NIH
A key issue as we move closer to ending the pandemic is determining more precisely how long people exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the COVID-19 virus, will make neutralizing antibodies against this dangerous coronavirus. Finding the answer is also potentially complicated with new SARS-CoV-2 “variants of concern” appearing around the world that could find ways to evade acquired immunity, increasing the chances of new outbreaks.
South America Is Now Covid-19 Hot Spot, With Eight Times the World’s Death Rate – WSJ
Driving the surge are more infectious variants, low vaccination rates, weak healthcare systems and, in some cases, governments that gave up on controlling the virus
As Brazil Tops 500,000 COVID-19 Deaths, Protesters Blame President – NPR
Anti-government protesters took to the streets in more than a score of cities across Brazil on Saturday as the nation’s confirmed death toll from COVID-19 soared past half a million — a tragedy many critics blame on President Jair Bolsonaro’s attempt to minimize the disease.
Dual-antibody drugs effective against COVID-19 variants in animal study – Reuters
COVID-19 therapies made from a cocktail of two types of antibodies were effective against a wide range of variants of the coronavirus in a mice and hamster study, the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reported on Monday.
Birthdays: Cake, Ice Cream … and Increased COVID Risk? – MedPageToday
Study makes a link, but public health implications hard to see. If small in-person social gatherings tend to promote COVID-19 transmission, then wouldn’t an identifiable and predictable reason to hold them — like birthdays — also be tied to increased risk?
Vaccine Headlines
Moderna Plans to Expand Production to Make Covid-19 Vaccine Boosters, Supply More Countries – WSJ
The company is adding production lines outside Boston, betting on shots to prolong immunity and target new variants
WHO notes progress on African COVID-19 vaccine production hub – CIDRAP
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) today said talks are in the works to establish a COVID-19 vaccine production hub in Africa, a step designed to boost vaccine supplies in the region in current and future outbreaks.
While it’s now pretty easy to get a COVID-19 shot in most places in the U.S., the vaccine rollout in other parts of the world has been slow or inconsistent due to shortages, uneven access and concerns about safety.
Is Routine Flu Vaccination Key to Pandemic Preparedness? – MedPageToday
The staggering loss of life that COVID-19 has wrought, by some estimates more than 3.8 million people at the time of this writing, almost defies comprehension. To say that every human on the planet is being impacted by this illness may not be an overstatement.
Clinical Considerations
A detailed molecular analysis of tissue from the brains of individuals who died of COVID-19 reveals extensive signs of inflammation and neurodegeneration, but no sign of the virus that causes the disease.
Contending with Long Covid – Harvard Magazine
At the forefront of efforts to demystify the opaque condition known as “long-COVID,” which saddles some survivors of the SARS CoV-2 virus with a slew of unpleasant and debilitating symptoms months after their bodies surmount the initial infection, is Jason Maley.
Official Reporting for June 22, 2021
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update June 22, 2021
Confirmed Cases: 178,202,610
Deaths: 3,865,738
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 178,827,648
Deaths: 3,874,365
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 33,368,860 (+9,860 New Cases)
Total deaths: 599,354 (+496 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
Data Supports Use of Anti-Parasitic Drug Ivermectin in COVID-19 Patients, Study Shows – BioSpace
The study, published last week in the American Journal of Therapeutics, analyzed data from multiple clinical studies assessing ivermectin as a potential treatment for COVID-19. Ivermectin, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis, which are two conditions caused by parasitic worms, has anti-inflammatory properties. Ivermectin has also been approved as a topical treatment for head lice. The scientific team wanted to determine the impact this drug would have against COVID-19, particularly in reducing infection and mortality. And, from what the research suggests, the team is confident in the efficacy of ivermectin against COVID-19.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Eating Disorders Surged Among Adolescents in Pandemic – WSJ
Before the pandemic, Basma O’Neill’s 15-year-old daughter was lean but healthy, with a robust appetite.But after the coronavirus pandemic hit and schools closed in Graham, Wash., her daughter spent most of her time alone in her room. She wore pajamas and sweats, and ate at different times than her family.
Published Research
Assessing the Association Between Social Gatherings and COVID-19 Risk Using Birthdays – JAMA
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Vaccine Hesitancy
Vaccine Hesitancy In The U.S. Is A Peculiar Privilege – NPR
“I want to wait and watch.” This is a peculiar response I receive from my friends and some family members in the United States when I ask them about their thoughts on COVID vaccination. This is a peculiar response for a couple of reasons: COVID vaccines are exceptionally effective, they are now readily available and they are the best way to end the pandemic and return to normalcy.
Coping in 2020 (and probably most of 2021)
