Stay ConnectedThe Covid 411 podcast provides daily updates, news, alerts, and information regarding the coronavirus, the many variants like Delta and Omicron, and COVID 19. Covid 411 aggregates information from a variety of sources including the CDC, WHO, and major media outlets to present a snapshot of Covid coverage and statistics.
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Copyright: © 2020
This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Friday May 22nd, 2020. The U.S. recorded over 25,000 new cases yesterday and 1,314 deaths. 6 states show a rise in cases over the last two weeks, including one that seemed relatively safe earlier in the outbreak. Maine reported their highest two-day total since the outbreak began. They have 1,877 confirmed cases, 136 of those were reported in the last two days. The state has been fairly aggressive with restrictions. The statewide stay at home order is in effect until June 1st, though some personal care business were allowed to reopen on May 1st. A 14-day quarantine for anyone entering the state remains in effect through August. So why the jump? According to the Maine government website, the state increased testing on May 18th. Allowing health care providers to test anyone they suspected of having the virus. A grant from the CDC will expand testing across the state over the next few weeks, so the numbers may continue to rise as more Maine residents get tested.
The CDC revised guidance on how the virus spreads, noting that touching contaminated objects or surfaces is not a significant mode of transmission. Primary spread is from person to person. The CDC has updated their modeling and is estimating that about 35% of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic. President Trump echoed Treasury Secretary Mnuchin, stating he thinks there will be an additional stimulus package. Flags will be flown at half-staff for the next three days to honor victims of COVID-19. Yosemite National Park hopes to reopen in June. Reservations will be required.
Latin America is witnessing a dramatic increase in cases, outpacing the US and Europe for 3 days in a row. Italy’s social security institute said their COVID-19 related death toll may be 60% higher than reported according to The Washington Post. Australia has extended their ban on international cruise ships in Australian waters through September 17th.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Thursday May 21st, 2020. The Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama said the city faces a shortage of ICU beds. Forcing some patients to be transferred to hospitals out of town. Alabama is one of 7 states where cases have increased over the last two weeks. On May 1st, there were 226 new cases, yesterday there were 676. There are 266 cases per 100,000 residents in Alabama, putting it ahead of more populous states like California, Washington, Florida and Texas. A model from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, warns that communities throughout the south that may have opened too quickly could see a new wave of infection in the next few weeks.
Columbia University released a study noting that had the U.S. enacted social distancing measures one week earlier in March, 36,000 lives may have been saved. Had they been in place two weeks earlier, it is estimated that 83% of the fatalities could have been avoided. Harvard Medical School researchers relayed that the 25 monkeys they immunized with DNA vaccines, created antibodies that protected them from the virus. The higher the level of antibodies, the stronger the protection. Virginia, Texas, Georgia and Vermont have been combining COVID-19 tests results, which look for active infection, with antibody test results, which look for past exposure. According to CNN, combining the two overstates the testing ability of the state.
Global cases passed 5 million, as the world saw the largest one day increase with 106,000 new cases according to the WHO. The Director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has warned that Europe must be ready for a second wave of the virus, saying “The question is when and how big”, reports The Guardian. In Afghanistan, The Health Ministry relayed it is out of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients. The Bolivian Health Minister has been arrested on corruption charges that he grossly overpaid for a contract to buy ventilators for hospitals.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Wednesday May 20th, 2020. One week ago, the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the extension of the state’s stay at home order. Milwaukee and Racine issued their own stay at home orders, but in a number of smaller cities and counties bars and restaurants were opened with limited protocols in place. So, how do the numbers in Wisconsin look one week later? Confirmed cases have gone from 10,900 to 13,001, deaths from 421 to 467. Bars and restaurants will start to reopen Friday in the Milwaukee suburbs and some water and amusement parks in the Wisconsin Dells will open Saturday. The challenge now is how to deal with people coming to Wisconsin from neighboring Illinois, which has the third highest case count in the country.
Over the weekend, The CDC released a 60-page guide online to assist in the reopening of schools, restaurants and other businesses. Guidelines for places of worship, were not included. A federal judge in Texas has ruled that voters should be allowed to mail in ballots. The state is expected to appeal. Michigan will mail absentee ballots to all voters for the upcoming August and November elections. Arkansas will begin testing every nursing home resident and employee on June 1st. Los Angeles County hopes to reopen businesses by July 4th. Alaska will move from phase 2 to phase 4, fully reopening the state with no capacity restrictions, on Friday. A mandatory 2-week quarantine for those arriving to the state will remain in effect through June 2nd.
In opening remarks at The World Health Assembly, The WHO Director-General said: ‘We have come together as the nations of the world to confront the defining health crisis of our time.’ Almost 200 cases in Seoul, South Korea have been linked to a cluster that began in a nightclub, that briefly reopened after the initial lockdown was lifted. As Spain continues reopening the country, masks are now mandatory for everyone over age 6, in pubic spaces. Britain’s Cambridge University will move all lectures to online until mid-2021. Some small in person classes will continue.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Tuesday May 19th, 2020. Cases in the U.S. have passed 1.5 million, with over 90,000 deaths. Communities large and small have been affected. New York and New Jersey have been especially hard hit, recently, the Navajo Nation has passed both states for the highest per capita infection rate in the U.S., with 2,304.41 cases per 100,000 residents according to CNN. Gallup, New Mexico, which sits on the edge of the Navajo Nation has the highest rate of deaths and infection relative to their population over the last two weeks, according to The New York Times. The Navajo Nation includes portions of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Their lockdown has been strict, with only essential workers allowed to leave home with documentation. Currently 11% of the population have been tested for the virus.
President Trump announced that he takes hydroxychloroquine daily and has for over a week. The FDA has warned against the use of the drug outside of a hospital setting. Connecticut has hit all benchmarks for reopening and will begin the first phase on Wednesday. They are the last state to lift or loosen restrictions. A number of colleges and universities, are cancelling fall break and ending in person classes before Thanksgiving in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
In a letter to the Inspector General of the World Health Organization, President Trump threatened to permanently pull funding if the WHO doesn’t “commit to major substantive improvements in the next 30 days”. El Salvador’s Supreme Court overruled The President’s extension of the country’s state of emergency. Saying it was unlawful because he did not seek congressional approval.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Monday May 18th, 2020. All but two states have lifted some restrictions as of today, including Iowa, where restaurants, gyms and salons opened in 22 counties on Friday. In a recent paper, University of Iowa researchers warned that the virus was likely still spreading and though some lockdown measures did mitigate the virus, they were not “sufficient to prevent uncontained spread” on their own. Reports the Iowa Times Republican. Over the last two weeks, Sioux City Iowa has the highest number of new cases per population with 13.27 per 1000 residents, according to The New York Times.
The US Health and Human Services Secretary suggested that the underlying health conditions of Americans, was a major contributor to the death toll from the coronavirus. The Chairman of the Federal Reserve told 60 Minutes that he expects the economy to recover, but it may take until the end of next year. 13 Sailors from the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for COVID-19 for a second time, after recovering from a first infection, reports The Washington Post.
More than 100 countries are calling for an independent evaluation in to the origin of the pandemic, relays CNN. The Mayor of Sao Paolo, Brazil, warned that the health care system in the city is on the verge of collapse, according to The Washington Post. A flight by the Canadian Snowbirds, meant to lift spirits and show support for those fighting COVID-19 ended in a tragic crash Sunday. One member was killed, another injured. In Italy restaurants, salons and churches reopened today, as cases continue to decline there.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Saturday May 16th, 2020. As more states reopen, CNN reviewed which one’s are seeing the fastest rates of growth. Rankings are based on new cases per 100,000 people. South Dakota took the top spot with a 134% increase moving from 7 to 15 cases per 100,000. Officials in South Dakota plan to test all nursing home and care facility residents and staff starting next week.
The House passed a 3 trillion-dollar relief bill. It is not expected to pass The Senate. The CDC has published a 6-page guide to assist businesses and schools with reopening. The Texas Supreme Court has temporarily stopped voting by mail for those who say the coronavirus would keep them from going out to vote. Ford will reopen plants around the country on Monday after almost two months.
Positive news on a vaccine being developed at Oxford University. In recent lab tests, monkeys that were given the vaccine developed COVID-19 antibodies and were not infected when exposed to the virus. The Prime Minister of Spain will ask for one final extension of the state of emergency. Indonesia will require anyone entering the country to submit a health certificate from their country of origin and take a COVID-19 test. Italy will allow domestic and international travel as of June 3rd.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Friday May 15th, 2020. 3 million more Americans filed for unemployment last week, bringing the number to over 36 million since the start of the COVID-19 crisis. The former head of BARDA, testified to Congress for nearly four hours yesterday. Dr. Bright said that the outbreak will get worse unless the U.S. develops a national testing strategy and a vaccine distribution plan. The President said Dr. Bright is a “disgruntled employee”. The Trump Administration announced they will “replenish and modernize” the national stockpile of masks, ventilators and other PPE. The manufacturing will be done in the U.S. The House will vote on a rule change to allow remote voting and a 3 Trillion-dollar aid package today. The aid package is not expected to make it through The Senate. Beaches in New Jersey will open in time for Memorial Day.
Doctors in Italy say they have scientific evidence linking coronavirus to pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, reports CBS News. Brazil has reported over 200,000 cases of COVID-19, they have the 6th highest case count in the world. After two weeks of single digit cases, Slovenia announced that the epidemic is over there and they have opened their borders. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have opened their shared borders. Allowing free travel among residents of the Baltic states. Australia began to reopen today. The country suffered fewer than 100 deaths and only a few dozen remain in hospitals, according to The Washington Post. China has gone one month without a death due to COVID-19.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Thursday May 14th, 2020. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled against The Governor’s stay at home order. Saying he did not have the authority to act without input from the legislature. President Trump strongly disagreed with Dr. Fauci over his statement that some schools should not reopen in the Fall. The President said that was “not acceptable” and that the Doctor wants to “play all sides of the equation”. At least 16 states reported cases of children with a “severe inflammatory illness” that may be related to COVID-19. Two new studies confirm that the virus can infect the intestines, kidneys and other organs. The former head of BARDA who filed a Whistleblower complaint, will testify before Congress today. Dr. Bright is expected to say that we face the “darkest winter in modern history” if we don’t develop a more coordinated response before an expected resurgence of the virus later this year.
Burundi has asked four World Health Organization representatives to leave the country by Friday. After one representative raised concerns about crowded political rallies, relays The Washington Post. Chile reported over 2600 cases in the last 24 hours, their largest yet. For the first time in 12 days, Russia reported under 10,000 new daily cases. Mexico will begin to lift some regional quarantines on Monday and the remainder of the country on June 1st.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Wednesday May 13th, 2020. Two key figures on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, warned The Senate that the U.S. is “not out of the woods” and caution against opening up too quickly. Senators and health experts expressed the need for testing to be ramped up. Modeling from The University of Washington, increased projected U.S. fatalities to 147,000 by early August. Los Angeles County will extend lockdown restrictions for an additional 3 months. The 23 campuses affiliated with California State University system said the majority of fall classes will not be held in person. New Orleans will begin to reopen on Saturday. Face masks will be required in public.
A new study from The World Health Organization reveals that smokers and former smokers are more likely to develop severe disease and potential death due to COVID-19 than non-smokers. A type of Russian made ventilator has been catching fire. Russian hospitals will discontinue use and FEMA has returned the same ventilators. Hong Kong officials confirmed the first new locally transmitted cases there in 22 days. Pakistan recorded their highest number of new daily infections yesterday. Thailand reported no new cases for the first time since mid-January. The German/Austria border will be partially reopened on Friday, with a full reopening on June 15th.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for Tuesday May 12th, 2020. Dr. Fauci will testify in front of The Senate today. The Coronavirus Task Force member will warn that reopening too early will cause “needless suffering and death” reports The New York Times. The Commissioner of the FDA and Head of the CDC will also testify. More than 80,000 in the U.S. have already died due to COVID-19. The Federal Government will provide states with 11 billion dollars for coronavirus testing needs. The majority of White House personnel will be asked to wear masks in public spaces on The White House Campus. Major League Baseball will present a proposal to the players union today to resume play with spring training in June and opening day in July.
Russia has passed Spain and is now has the second most COVID-19 cases, behind the U.S. More than 100 health care workers in Mexico have died due to the virus. Authorities in Wuhan, China plan to test all 11 million residents by the end of next week, to fully extinguish the virus, reports The Washington Post. France has extended their “State of Emergency” through July 10th. Allowing the government to reinstate restrictions as necessary due to the virus. Spain will require a 14-day quarantine for anyone coming in to the country, including Spanish Nationals.
The locations of hotspots and U.S and Country diagnoses in a moment.
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