Thursday, August 5, 2021 | Kaiser Health News

Reuters:
U.S. COVID-19 Cases Hit Six-Month High At Over 100,000

The United States hit a six-month high for new COVID cases with over 100,000 infections reported on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as the Delta variant ravages areas where people did not get vaccinated. The country is reporting over 94,819 cases on a seven-day average, a five-fold increase in less than a month, Reuters data through Wednesday showed. The seven-day average provides the most accurate picture of how fast cases are rising since some states only report infections once or twice a week. (Abraham, 8/5)

The New York Times:
World’s Coronavirus Infection Total Passes Staggering Figure: 200 Million

Two hundred million is an enormous number. But as the world recorded the 200 millionth detected case of coronavirus infection, that daunting figure — more than the populations of Germany, France and Spain combined — also fails to capture how far the virus has embedded itself within humanity. … A surge in case numbers has too often been followed by a crush of people crowding emergency rooms. And then, several weeks later, fatality counts have typically spiked. It took more than a year for the pandemic to reach its 100 millionth case, and little more than six months to double that, with the world surpassing the 200 million figure on Wednesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. (Santora and Kwai, 8/4)

In other news about the spread of the coronavirus —

The Washington Examiner:
More Than 1,500 Coronavirus-Positive Migrants Released In One Week Into Texas Border Town 

A border city in south Texas declared a local disaster this week as it struggles to respond to surging cases of the coronavirus among migrants as thousands are released by the Border Patrol onto the street every week. Last week, a record-high 7,000 migrants were released in downtown McAllen, where they were immediately tested for the coronavirus through a city contractor. More than 1,500 people tested positive over the past seven days, according to a city document issued Wednesday, compared to a total of 7,000 confirmed cases over the past five months. Those who test positive are told to quarantine for two days but are ultimately released into the public. (Giaritelli, 8/4)

The New York Times:
Nursing Homes Confront New Covid Outbreaks Amid Calls For Staff Vaccination Mandates 

In late spring, the 142 nursing homes operated by the Good Samaritan Society hit a milestone that was unthinkable just four months earlier: Zero cases of Covid-19 across the whole company, from 900 at the peak of the pandemic. The relief was short-lived. The case count has ticked up again: It’s still below 100 among residents and staff, the company said, but includes many breakthrough cases of vaccinated residents testing positive. Then last week, two vaccinated residents died with Covid at the Good Samaritan Society-Deuel County nursing home in Clear Lake, South Dakota. (Richtel and Abelson, 8/4)

Houston Chronicle:
COVID-19 Cases Found On Vaccinated Carnival Cruise

Carnival Cruise Line confirmed Wednesday evening that a “small number” of people onboard the Galveston-based Carnival Vista cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19. The cruise company, which resumed sailing from American ports with the Carnival Vista’s July 3 excursion, now operates the Vista and sister ship Carnival Breeze on weekly cruises from the port of Galveston. (Zong, 8/4)

Houston Chronicle:
According To Houston’s Wastewater, The Surge Of COVID-19 Is Only Going To Get Worse

There is more COVID-19 in the city’s wastewater system now than at any time in the pandemic, city officials said Wednesday, the latest warning that the virus is spreading at an unprecedented rate. Dr. David Persse, the city’s health authority, said there is more than three times as much virus in the system as there was last July. The volume also is higher than in January, during the most recent spike. Persse said the wastewater data, a precursor to other meaures, show the surge will only grow worse in the coming weeks. (McGuinness, 8/4)

USA Today:
Chicago’s Lollapalooza Could Be A Super Spreader, Experts Warn

The sight was striking. As COVID-19 cases surged in the U.S. last weekend, the city’s downtown was a sea of mostly unmasked humanity as hundreds of thousands crowded together for the outdoor music festival Lollapalooza. A chorus of public health experts sounded the alarm about the fast spread of the contagious coronavirus delta variant – even by the fully vaccinated – and the city called for masking indoors, yet more than 385,000 people packed the four-day event. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot defended the decision to hold the festival, citing strict pandemic precautions that required concertgoers show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test and to wear a mask. (Rodriguez and Fernando, 8/4)

Also —

Reuters:
First Broadway Play Opens In NY Since Lengthy Pandemic Shutdown

The first Broadway play since the coronavirus pandemic shut down theaters in New York City in 2020 opened on Wednesday, with vaccinations and masks required for audiences.”Pass Over,” a modern twist on “Waiting for Godot,” was sold out for its first preview at the August Wilson Theatre in Manhattan. … Under rules announced by Broadway theaters last week, audiences, actors, stage crew and theater staff must be fully vaccinated and masks must be worn for shows, which will be allowed to play to 100% capacity audiences. “The vibe is amazing, it’s electric,” said director Danya Taymor. “We got to have a dress rehearsal last night, so we got to have like 500 people in here. And just the palpable joy and gratitude of the audience made me weep.” (8/4)

The Washington Post:
NFLPA Proposes Return To Stricter Coronavirus Protocols 

The NFL Players Association told its membership Wednesday that it will propose re-tightening the sport’s coronavirus protocols and testing vaccinated players and team staffers more frequently, based on growing concerns about the spread of the delta variant and breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals. (Maske, 8/4)

Politico:
White House Wants NY To Avoid Setback In Case Of Leadership Change 

Press secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday said the White House didn’t want to see New Yorkers affected “in a negative way” by potential leadership turnover in the state as it continues its battle with Covid. “The president made clear, because of the abhorrent allegations that were made public yesterday, that it is time for Governor Cuomo to resign,” Psaki said during a White House press briefing. “At the same time, we do not want the people of New York to be impacted in a negative way as they’re working to fight Covid.” (Ward, 8/4)

The Washington Post:
Bryson DeChambeau: No Vaccine, No Regrets After Coronavirus Led To Missing Olympics

Bryson DeChambeau said Wednesday that he does not regret declining to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, despite developing a case of covid-19 that caused him to lose around 10 pounds and miss out on representing the United States in the Olympics. The 27-year-old major winner told reporters Wednesday that being vaccinated “doesn’t necessarily prevent it from happening,” referring to possibly contracting the coronavirus. Speaking in Memphis, the site of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau asserted that he would “rather give [the vaccine] to people who need it.” (Bieler, 8/4)

CNN:
Dallas Firefighter Allegedly Faked His Family’s Covid-19 Diagnoses And Took Paid Leave To Go To A Resort 

A Dallas firefighter was charged with theft after allegedly taking paid leave for nearly a month while lying about testing positive for Covid-19. William Jordan Carter, 38, who’s been with the Dallas Fire-Rescue Department for 14 years, was arrested Friday, and bail was set at $1,500, according to court records. He was no longer in custody as of Wednesday. Carter requested time off on March 24 because his wife had Covid-19, according to an affidavit for his arrest warrant. A week later, he requested another week, saying his daughter had tested positive for the virus. Two days before he was set to return to work, Carter reported to the department he was sick and had tested positive for Covid, the affidavit says. (Killough and Vera, 8/5)

ABC News:
Delta Variant Now 93% Of All Sequenced Cases In US

The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads. More than 614,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 and over 4.2 million people have died worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. (Shapiro and Pereira, 8/5)

The Hill:
Delta’s Peak Is Difficult To Project, But Could Come This Month

The COVID-19 delta variant surging through the United States could peak later this month, but experts say projections are difficult and much will depend on an unpredictable factor: human behavior. The U.S. is expected to endure a rough next few weeks no matter what. The seven-day average for COVID-19 has risen in recent weeks to 85,866 cases per day as of Monday, the highest point since Valentine’s Day, according to data from The New York Times. (Coleman, 8/4)

The Atlantic:
What Does The Future Of Delta Look Like?

When the U.K. dropped all coronavirus restrictions on “Freedom Day,” July 19, critics called the move a “dangerous and unethical experiment.” Harsher critics called it “epidemiologically stupid.” At the time, cases in the country were still rising amid a Delta-fueled spike. Then, to nearly everyone’s surprise, COVID-19 cases started falling. This suggests that Delta hit a natural peak in the U.K. by mid-July—not because of Freedom Day, the effects of which are only just starting to show up in the data, but through some other mechanism. (Zhang, 8/4)

The Washington Post:
Should You Cancel Travel Plans Because Of Delta Variant? What To Ask Yourself.

For a blissful few weeks this spring, a summer of semi-normal travel seemed not just possible, but almost certain. Flights were booked, hotel reservations were made and vacation time was requested as those with wanderlust or pent-up desire to see loved ones organized their long-awaited excursions. But the hyper-transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus has now forced some would-be travelers to cancel trips and others to consider whether it’s safe to follow through with their plans. (Iati, 8/4)

Philadelphia Inquirer:
Delta-Plus And Lambda Variants Don’t Yet Warrant Panic For Vaccinated People, Philly Experts Say

While the United States scrambles to respond to growing COVID-19 cases fueled by the delta variant, a handful of new variants are continuing to appear, such as B.1.617.2.1 or AY.1 — dubbed “delta-plus.” As its moniker suggests, delta-plus is reported to be a souped-up version of the highly prevalent and likely more transmissible delta variant. On Tuesday, South Korean public health officials reported two cases of this new variant, including at least one person who was vaccinated, according to Reuters. This extends the list of more than 200 previously reported cases in the United States, Canada, and multiple European and Asian nations. The World Health Organization considers it to be a variant of concern. (Nathan, 8/5)

In related news —

Axios:
Fauci Fears A COVID Variant Worse Than Delta Could Be Coming 

If America’s current COVID-19 surge continues unabated into the fall and winter, the country will likely face an even more deadly strain of the virus that could evade the current coronavirus vaccines, NIAID director Anthony Fauci told McClatchy Wednesday. Fauci’s comments underscore the importance of acting quickly to vaccinate the tens of millions of Americans who have not been inoculated against the virus. (Saric, 8/4)

CNN:
If We Do Not All Get Vaccinated, The Next Covid-19 Variant Is Just Around The Corner, Expert Says 

Efforts to get more Americans vaccinated against Covid-19 are growing more urgent as an expert warns that if vaccination rates don’t increase, the dangerous Delta variant could continue to evolve. “The next variant is just around the corner, if we do not all get vaccinated,” Adm. Brett Giroir, the former coronavirus testing czar under Pres. Trump, told CNN’s Chris Cuomo. “I just beg the American people to understand that to defeat this virus, we have to get everybody’s level of immunity up, and that’s just the way it is,” he added. (Holcombe, 8/5)

Fox News:
Pfizer, J&J React To COVID-19 Breakthrough Infections

Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson remain confident in their respective COVID-19 vaccines’ ability to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death amid the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant, the companies told Fox News. Following recent outbreaks in Massachusetts, in which nearly three-quarters of some 469 COVID-19 cases occurred in fully vaccinated individuals, federal officials involved with the country’s COVID-19 response and some vaccine drugmakers are emphasizing that the shots remain protective against serious outcomes. (Rivas, 8/4)

The Hill:
DeSantis Hits Back At Biden Criticism: ‘Why Don’t You Do Your Job?’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hit back on Wednesday after President Biden criticized him and other Republican governors for banning mask mandates. Speaking at a news conference, DeSantis promised to stand in the way of “lockdown policies” and accused Biden of trying to restrict the rights of parents and children in Florida. “Joe Biden suggests that if you don’t do lockdown policies, then you should ‘get out of the way.’ But let me tell you this: If you’re coming after the rights of parents in Florida, I’m standing in your way. I’m not going to let you get away with it,” DeSantis said. (Chalfant, 8/4)

Florida’s deadly covid surge continues —

Newsweek:
Florida’s Seven-Day COVID Case Average Spikes 800 Percent In One Month

Over the past month, Florida’s seven-day average number of COVID-19 cases has spiked by a large percentage, as the state has seen a surge of new cases, deaths and hospitalizations. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of August 1, Florida was reporting a seven-day average of new cases of 17,024, but this number was far lower just a month ago. (Impelli, 8/4)

Bloomberg:
Florida Hospitals Fighting To Get Oxygen With ‘Hand Tied’

Florida hospitals are struggling to get oxygen due to a rise in Covid-19 cases attributable to the delta variant and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s decision not to declare another state of emergency. A shortage of drivers who are qualified to transport oxygen, as well as restrictions around how long truck drivers can be on the road—which went back into effect following the expiration of the public health emergency in the state—means that the supply isn’t getting to the hospitals that need it most. (Stein, 8/4)

AP:
In Florida Hospitals, ‘There Are Only So Many Beds’

A South Florida hospital chain is suspending elective surgeries and putting beds in conference rooms, an auditorium and even a cafeteria as many more patients seek treatment for COVID-19. “We are seeing a surge like we’ve not seen before in terms of the patients coming,” Memorial Healthcare System’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Marc Napp said Wednesday during a news conference in Hollywood. (Kennedy, 8/5)

USA Today:
Florida, Texas Hospitals Swamped By Younger, Unvaxxed COVID Patients

A fourth wave of COVID-19 is threatening to overwhelm U.S. hospitals in regions where large swaths of unvaccinated people provide little resistance to the highly contagious delta variant. Nowhere is the strain more apparent than Florida, which reached a new peak Tuesday of 11,515 people hospitalized with COVID-19, according to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hospitals in Jacksonville and Orlando last week crashed through their pandemic peaks, and hospitals in Miami-Dade County are at or approaching record coronavirus hospitalizations this week, said Mary Mayhew, CEO of Florida Hospital Association. (Alltucker, 8/4)

Some schools in Florida say they will defy Gov. DeSantis —

Politico:
‘Literally Losing Our Workforce’: Florida Schools Defy DeSantis’ Anti-Mask Order

Florida school districts are moving to resist Gov. Ron DeSantis’ order barring schools from implementing mask requirements for kids, setting up a fight with the Republican governor who has resisted any Covid-related mandates. Late Tuesday night, school board members in Alachua County in north Florida voted to require all students to wear masks during the first two weeks of school. And Wednesday morning, Leon County, which includes Tallahassee, announced it’s seeking a mandatory mask rule for students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Both are direct rejections of DeSantis’ executive order prohibiting schools from enacting mask requirements for students. (Atterbury, 8/4)

The Washington Post:
Several School Districts In Florida Issue Mask Mandates Despite Governor’s Order 

Some of Florida’s largest school districts have announced they will either keep or issue new mask mandates in light of the coronavirus outbreak that is ravaging the state, challenging an order by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) threatening to withhold funds from school districts if they mandate that students wear face coverings. At least four school districts in the state are pushing back against the governor’s staunch opposition to new virus restrictions or mask mandates after he issued an executive order Friday saying that recent guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that students wear masks “lacks” scientific justification and warning that the government could withhold state funds from “noncompliant” schools. (Villegas and Kornfield, 8/4)

Axios:
Arkansas Governor Says He Regrets Banning Mask Mandates 

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Tuesday he regrets signing a bill into law that banned local mask mandates in the state. Hutchinson has called on the state legislature to amend the law to let school districts decide whether to require face coverings when they return to in-person learning this fall. (Gonzalez, 8/4)

NPR:
Arkansas Governor Wants To Reverse A Law That Forbids Schools To Require Masks

Months after he signed the bill banning state and local mask mandates, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says he wants the law reversed to give schools the option to require face coverings when children return to the classroom. “In hindsight, I wish that it had not become law. But it is the law, and the only chance we have is either to amend it or for the courts to say that it has an unconstitutional foundation,” he said at a Tuesday news conference. Hutchinson has called a special session for the state legislature to change the law. During the news conference, he and Secretary of Health Jose Romero stressed that children under 12 are currently the most vulnerable group in the state because they are unable to get the vaccine. (Fischels, 8/4)

CNN:
New Data On Kids And Covid Made Even A GOP Governor Flip On Masks In Schools 

The freedom coveted by some Americans to avoid vaccines and spurn masks is, increasingly, leading to a group of Americans that can’t access vaccines getting Covid-19. We’re talking about kids under 12, who need to go back to school over the next month, but can’t get the vaccine. “I think we’ve let our children down,” Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine adviser to the US Food and Drug Administration, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Wednesday, while discussing low vaccination rates in the US placing children who cannot get the shot at risk. “They depend on those around them to protect them,” he said. (Wolf, 8/4)

In related news from Arkansas —

CNN:
This Arkansas Hospital Is So Short On Nurses In This Newest Covid-19 Surge, It’s Offering A $25,000 Signing Bonus 

Takela Gardner began her nursing career just two years ago, but her patients already think she’s a seasoned nurse. A registered nurse at a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) facility in Little Rock, Gardner told CNN she’s had to essentially learn nursing on the fly during the Covid-19 pandemic, which she said began eight months into her nursing career. Not only that, but seeing constant death, working long shifts and having a shortage of health care staff — specifically nurses — have left Gardner burnt out. (Vera, Savidge, Cartaya and Hanna, 8/5)

Thv11.Com:
Virtually Zero Hospital Beds Available In Arkansas, Officials Say 

The Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Jose Romero said there is no space in any state hospitals for inpatient care (ICU beds.) In a meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 4, Dr. Romero asked the steering committee to direct money from the American Rescue Plan to get more hospital staff and beds for COVID-19 patients. A hospital bed would cost $4,000 each. Dr. Rawle Seupaul, the UAMS Chief Medical Officer said the hospital can’t give adequate care to patients as the delta variant is causing mostly unvaccinated Arkansans to receive inpatient care. (8/4)

Fox News:
NIH Director Backs Away From Suggestion That Parents Wear Masks At Home To Protect Kids

The head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on Tuesday afternoon tried to walk back his comments from earlier in the day suggesting that parents wear masks at home to protect unvaccinated children. Dr. Francis Collins said “it’s clear” that the delta variant was capable of causing serious illness in kids while addressing whether young children should avoid indoor situations. He noted that while rare, there are many examples of young people being sickened by the virus and cited new recommendations for kids under 12 to avoid being in places where they might get infected and recommendations for universal masking at schools, and even for adults at home. (Hein, 8/4)

NBC News:
Delta And Vaccinated Parents: What People With Kids Under 12 Need To Know

With coronavirus cases rising across the country and the highly contagious delta variant spreading in every state, many parents have been left wondering how best to keep their children safe, particularly when it comes to kids under 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination. Most schools are set to welcome students back in person in the coming weeks, but many aren’t requiring them to wear masks. And as people look to plan last-minute vacations, set up play dates for their kids or attend other events, weighing the potential risks is challenging because many families are juggling different vaccination statuses within their own ranks. (Chow, 8/4)

In updates on mandates at schools and universities —

Axios:
Illinois Announces Mask Mandate For Schools, Vaccinations For State Workers 

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) announced Wednesday that the state would institute a mask mandate for preschool through high school students and staff and a vaccine mandate for some state employees. The move comes as surging COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant in Illinois have led to rising hospitalization, ICU occupancy and ventilator use rates, per the governor’s press release. (Saric, 8/4)

AP:
Penn State University Requires Masking At All Campuses

Penn State University will require students, staff and visitors at all its campuses to wear masks while indoors, the school announced Wednesday, responding to a statewide surge in coronavirus cases. The masking rule will apply to everyone, regardless of vaccination status, Penn State officials said. (8/5)

AP:
Phoenix School District Says Suit Over Mask Mandate Is Moot

A Phoenix school district wants a judge to dismiss a lawsuit over its mask mandate, which could be a test case for other districts, arguing a state law banning such policy isn’t in effect yet. A preliminary hearing was held Wednesday in the case of Douglas Hester, a biology teacher who sued the Phoenix Union High School District. Hester is asking a Maricopa County Superior Court judge to grant a temporary restraining order on the mandate, calling it unlawful. (Tang, 8/5)

New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Tulane University Will Require Regular COVID Testing This Fall, In Addition To Vaccine Mandate

Tulane University will require students and faculty to have regular coronavirus testing this fall, the latest in a series of moves by the university to stop the spread of COVID-19. Students must test for COVID three days before they arrive at the university’s dormitories, university officials said in a memo this week. Students should also quarantine for up to a week before they return to campus. Classes begin Aug. 23. Dorm move-ins begin Aug. 15 and run through Aug. 21. (Williams, 8/4)

Anchorage Daily News:
Anchorage Assembly Member Says Requiring Children To Wear Masks In Schools Is ‘Criminal Child Abuse’

Anchorage Assembly member Jamie Allard in an interview this week said she believes requiring children to wear masks in public schools is criminal child abuse.
Allard, a vocal opponent of the city’s previous mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions, first made the statement in a column on a conservative website last week. It was published ahead of an Anchorage School Board meeting considering the school district’s COVID-19 mitigation plan. The plan recommended requiring students and staff, in most cases, to wear masks indoors during the upcoming school year. “I also agree with those who believe that masking children is nothing short of criminal child abuse. Don’t do it, Anchorage School Board,” wrote Allard.
On Tuesday, the Anchorage School Board accepted the district’s plan. (Goodykoontz, 8/4)

The Baltimore Sun:
In Ever-Changing Pandemic, Maryland And Baltimore-Area Schools Leaders Say One Thing Is Certain: Classes Will Be In-Person Next School Year 

Education officials say all Maryland public schools will be open five days a week for in-person classes next school year, despite currently rising coronavirus cases and changing federal guidance on masking. There are no plans to switch back to online learning. No plans to reintroduce the hybrid compromise, where teachers simultaneously instruct online and in front of a class of students. And no one is talking about expanding seats for what is planned to be a limited number of online students. (Bowie and Reed, 8/4)

In other mask news —

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Wisconsin State Employees Will Be Required To Wear Masks

State employees will have to wear face masks starting Thursday because of a surge in coronavirus cases, Wisconsin officials announced Wednesday. The move came shortly after the two largest University of Wisconsin schools, in Madison and Milwaukee, put in place their own mask requirements. The policies are being enacted as the delta variant of COVID springs up around the world, including among those who have been fully vaccinated. (Marley, 8/4)

Newsweek:
Google Doodle Says ‘Get Vaccinated, Wear A Mask’ As Delta Variant Threat Looms

The Google Doodle for Wednesday, August 4, is urging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and wear face masks as the pandemic continues. The company’s latest animated graphic shows the familiar letters spelling out its name, all wearing masks. It is accompanied by the caption: “Get vaccinated. Wear a mask. Save lives.” (Kim, 8/4)

Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Man Scales Strip Hotel To Protest New Mask Mandates

At the first glimpse of sunlight on Tuesday, Las Vegas-based rock climber Maison Des Champs set out to scale the exterior of a Strip hotel in protest of Nevada’s latest COVID-19 mask mandate for indoor public areas. Maison Des Champs, 22, said he had been scouting the Aria, a 600-foot-tall skyscraper, for the better part of the past year. After his grandfather died by suicide during last year’s pandemic-triggered lockdown, Des Champs said, he was inspired to find a way to peacefully protest against Nevada’s mandates in his grandfather’s honor. “I don’t expect everyone to agree with me,” the climber told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday. “COVID is dangerous, and masks aren’t that big of a deal, but it’s what they stand for: a loss of freedom and personal choice.” (Lacanlale, 8/4)

CIDRAP:
Flu Vaccine Linked To Less Severe COVID-19

COVID-19 patients who had received the flu vaccine 6 months to 2 weeks prior to diagnosis were less likely to have sepsis, stroke, and—with some time constraints—deep vein thrombosis (DVTs) and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) or emergency department (ED), according to a study yesterday in PLOS One. The researchers used an electronic medical record network to match 37,377 COVID-19 patients who had received the flu vaccine with 37,377 of those who hadn’t in January 2021, drawing from 56 healthcare organizations predominantly in the United States. (8/4)

The New York Times:
Heart Problems After Vaccination In U.S. Are Uncommon And Short-Lived, Researchers Say

For every one million Americans immunized with a coronavirus vaccine, about 60 develop temporary heart problems, according to a study published on Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network. The complications were all short-lived, the researchers found. And these heart problems are far more common among patients who develop Covid-19, outside experts noted. (Mandavilli, 8/4)

Nature:
Surprise Dip In UK COVID Cases Baffles Researchers

Scientists are scratching their heads over the precipitous decline in daily COVID-19 infections in the United Kingdom following their rapid rise earlier in the year. Officially recorded new cases more than halved in just 2 weeks: from a high of 54,674 on 17 July to 22,287 on 2 August. “Nobody really knows what’s going on,” says epidemiologist John Edmunds at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). In particular, it’s not clear whether this sudden trend indicates that the peak of the third wave has passed, or whether it is a blip caused by complex social factors. (Ball, 8/3)

Also —

Nature:
COVID ‘Fast Grants’ Sped Up Pandemic Science

What happened when an economics researcher, a bioengineer and a tech entrepreneur joined forces in a pandemic? They envisaged a research-grant system with an application form that can be completed in less than 30 minutes, a decision-making process that takes just 48 hours, and funding that arrives within a week — and then set up the system in 10 days, using donations from philanthropists. The scheme, known as Fast Grants, launched in April 2020 and received 4,000 applications in its first week. It was created by Tyler Cowen, an economics researcher at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia; Patrick Collison, co-founder of online payment processing platform Stripe; and Patrick Hsu, a bioengineer at the University of California, Berkeley. (Else, 8/3)

The Guardian:
Research Into Non-Injectable Covid Vaccines Brings Hope For Needle-Phobics

The sight of a needle piercing skin is enough to chill a quarter of adult Britons and trigger up to 4% into fainting. But hope is on the horizon for needle-phobics as researchers are working on a range of non-injectable Covid vaccine formulations, including nasal sprays and tablets. Almost every vaccine in use today comes with a needle, and the approved Covid-19 vaccines are no exception. Once jabbed, the body’s immune system usually mounts a response, but scientists in the UK and beyond are hoping to harness the immune arsenal of the mucous membranes that line the nose, mouth, lungs and digestive tract, regions typically colonised by respiratory viruses including Covid-19, in part to allay the fears of needle-phobics. (Grover, 8/2)