EU removes US from safe travel list as COVID infections rise

The European Union has recommended that the US, along with four other countries, be removed from its list of countries exempt from restrictions on non-essential travel.

"Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, the Republic of North Macedonia and the United States of America were removed from the list," a statement from the European Council said.

Read more at: EU removes US from safe travel list as COVID infections rise | News | DW | 30.08.2021

USA-Florida: COVID vaccine pop-up held at funeral of fallen Florida deputy

For the last few months, Florida officials have been bringing COVID-19 vaccines to places where many people gather like concerts and malls to make it easier for someone to get a shot.

On Monday, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office hosted a pop-up at a location at an unusual venue that could put things into perspective: the funeral of 32-year-old Polk County Deputy Sheriff Christopher Broadhead. The father of five died from COVID-19 complications on Aug. 23 after being in the hospital for several weeks.

Read more at: COVID vaccine pop-up held at funeral of fallen Florida deputy | Miami Herald

The Netherlands: Dutch coronavirus average rises for the first time in four weeks; Positivity rate holds above 14%

The seven-day average for new coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by one percent to 2,373 on Monday. The average has fallen for 27 consecutive days from a peak of 10,160, though the rate of decrease showed signs of slowing over the past week.

The average was about nine percent lower compared to a week ago according to raw data from the RIVM. Some 16,418 coronavirus cases were registered over the past seven days according to a mix of raw and corrected data, which puts the average closer to 2,345.

The RIVM learned of 2,275 more positive coronavirus tests during the 24 hours leading up to 10 a.m. on Monday. That was still about one percent lower than the previous day, but it was nearly 10 percent higher than a week ago. The daily total has remained between two and three thousand for 11 straight days.

Read more at: https://nltimes.nl/2021/08/16/dutch-coronavirus-average-rises-first-time-four-weeks-positivity-rate-holds-14

USA: COVID and children: Doctors worry about disparities in kids of color

On Thursday, Ana Amira Rivera celebrated her first birthday. But earlier this month, her mom worried her baby girl wouldn’t make it.

Ava woke up one night in early August with a fever and seizures. Estefani Lopez rushed her to the emergency room, where her daughter stopped breathing, going limp in her arms. The otherwise health baby was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Read more at: COVID and children: Doctors worry about disparities in kids of color

Covid -19: Does delta cause more severe COVID-19? Here's what we know — and don't

A small-but-growing body of research suggests the highly contagious delta variant raises your risk of serious illness, but it's tough to know for sure if it's the root cause of more severe COVID-19, both researchers and outside experts say.

The latest findings out of Singapore, published this week in the peer-reviewed medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, involve a comparison between 829 hospitalized patients infected with one of three variants of concern — including delta — and 846 patients admitted to hospitals with the original coronavirus strain in early 2020.

Read more at: Does delta cause more severe COVID-19? Here's what we know — and don't | CBC News

Global Covid-19 caseload tops 213 mn

The global coronavirus caseload has topped 213 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 4.45 million and vaccinations soared to over 4.99 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on Wednesday morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload, death toll and vaccination tally stood at 213,098,413, 4,450,408 and 4,995,430,625, respectively.

The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 38,053,653 and 630,663, respectively, according to the CSSE.

Read more at: Global Covid-19 caseload tops 213 mn - Netindia123.com

Pfizer vaccine full approval FDA: What FDA’s full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine means - by Sara Berg

“Although the three widely available vaccines for COVID-19 have been shown safe and highly effective through intense study and research, the FDA’s announcement Monday should instill confidence in those who, until now, have been wary of the emergency use designation given to these vaccines,” said AMA President Gerald E. Harmon, MD. “The message could not be more clear: This vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19.”

This is the result of months of work, robust data evaluation and a thorough, comprehensive review process that has protected more than 100 million Americans from severe COVID-19 complications. It is a milestone and major step forward in the worldwide effort to end this pandemic.

Read more at: What FDA’s full approval of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine means | American Medical Association

USA - vaccine booster shot: Some scientists say Biden jumped gun with vaccine booster plan - by Rachana Pradhan, Kaiser

The Biden administration’s plans to make COVID-19 booster shots available next month has drawn a collective scream of protest from the scientific community.

As some scientists see it, the announcement is rash and based on weak evidence, and they worry it could undercut confidence in vaccines with no clear benefit of controlling the pandemic. Meanwhile, more information is needed on potential side effects or adverse effects from a booster shot, they say.

Read more at: Some scientists say Biden jumped gun with vaccine booster plan

The Netherlands: Dutch Covid hospitalizations down 6% this week; Coronavirus average up 5%

als in the Netherlands admitted 531 patients with Covid-19 this calendar week, five percent fewer compared to a week ago. Out of that group, 439 patients were admitted into regular care, and 92 were sent to intensive care units, based on data provided by patient monitor LCPS.

That means that 76 patients with the disease were admitted daily on average, including 63 nursing ward patients and 13 intensive care patients. A week earlier, hospitals sent 444 to regular care wards, an average of over 63 daily, and 114 to an ICU, or 16 on average.

Read more at: https://nltimes.nl/2021/08/22/dutch-covid-hospitalizations-6-week-coronavirus-average-5

Covid-19 vaccination booster shot: Top scientists question the need for COVID-19 booster shots - by Julie Steenhuysen and Kate Kelland

COVID-19 vaccine developers are making ever bolder assertions that the world will need yearly booster shots, or new vaccines to tackle concerning coronavirus variants, but some scientists question when, or whether, such shots will be needed.

Read mopre at: Top scientists question the need for COVID-19 booster shots | Reuters

The Netherlands: Significant support for booster shots in the Netherlands, government awaits advice

A survey carried out by the TV show EenVandaag among 27.000 panellists has found that 64 percent of people in the Netherlands believe it is a good idea to offer a third COVID-19 vaccination to vulnerable members of the population. Only 16 percent of respondents opposed the plan, while the remaining 20 percent were unsure, most of whom were unvaccinated themselves.

Those in favour of the plan felt booster shots were a promising idea if they offered vulnerable people additional protection against the Delta variant. Among this group, 86 percent who are already vaccinated said they would eventually like to receive an additional dose if it offered them extra protection against COVID-19. Interestingly, the survey found that even those in favour of a

Read more at: Significant support for booster shots in the Netherlands, government awaits advice

USA-Texas: Hospitals Overwhelmed by Another Surge of COVID-19 Patients, Financial Strain

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The latest surge of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., driven by the delta variant of the virus that causes the disease, has pushed up the seven-day average of COVID-19 hospitalizations from 19,123 on June 15 to 80,664 on Aug. 15 — an increase of 322%.

The hospitalizations tend to be higher in states with low vaccination rates, including Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas tested positive for the coronavirus and said in a video uploaded to Twitter that he was “really not feeling any symptoms right now,” and has previously received the Covid-19 vaccine.

Read more at: Hospitals Overwhelmed by Another Surge of COVID-19 Patients, Financial Strain - Dallas Examiner

Covid-19: America's handling of COVID-19 proved unpopular around the world

For many decades, the United States of America has enjoyed the reputation of having one of the most advanced medical research systems and the best public health policies in the world. There are heated debates regarding the nature of the healthcare system financing model (public or private), but what we have seen so far since the pandemic is a mixture of defective health policies, bad decisions, denialism and a very weak healthcare system that didn't put people first. Although the American leaders like to brag about having "the strongest health system model" in the world, they turned out to be one of the weakest in fighting against COVID-19.

Read more at: America's handling of COVID-19 proved unpopular around the world - CGTN

LOGIC VERSUS ECONOMICS: Buying our way out of pandemic malaise is hurting the planet, experts say

Back in the spring, Canadian politicians spoke optimistically of a "two-dose summer," signalling that a robust COVID-19 vaccination rollout would enable people to fully enjoy the warmer weather.

As COVID-19 infection numbers eased in recent months, provinces have relaxed restrictions and encouraged people to spend again.

While this was meant to provide a collective boost in the middle of a stubborn pandemic, this summer has put on another horror show of extreme weather — including a deadly heat dome and rampant wildfires in British Columbia and northwestern Ontario and drought in the Prairies

READ MORE AT: Buying our way out of pandemic malaise is hurting the planet, experts say | CBC News

The Netherlands: Dutch PM Rutte Hopes to Lift Social Distancing Rules Sept 20

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday said the government is considering lifting social distancing rules on Sept. 20 as COVID-19 cases in the Netherlands ease.

In the week ended Aug. 10, cases fell by 14% in the Netherlands to 103 per 100,000 inhabitants, the country's National Institute for Health (RIVM) found.

Read more at: Dutch PM Rutte Hopes to Lift Social Distancing Rules Sept 20 | World News | US News

USA-Covid-19: Texas, Florida accounting for nearly 40% of new COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

During a briefing Thursday, the White House COVID-19 Response Team said the percentage of new daily COVID-19 cases is up 24% from the previous week, which is about 113,000 new cases per day.

Hospitalizations are up 31% over the same time period, some 9,700 new admissions daily.

Texas is considered a problem area.

"Florida and Texas, alone, have accounted for nearly 40% of new hospitalizations across the country," White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients explained.

Read more at: Texas, Florida accounting for nearly 40% of new COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

Vaccines give COVID-19 survivors a big immune boost, studies show

According to a new Gallup survey, one of the main reasons Americans cite for not planning to get vaccinated is the belief that they're protected since they already had COVID-19.

From the beginning health authorities have urged survivors to get the broader protection vaccination promises. While the shots aren't perfect, they are providing strong protection against hospitalization and death even from the delta mutant.

Read moreat: Vaccines give COVID-19 survivors a big immune boost, studies show | CBC News

Insurance industry: Climate change could make insurance too expensive for most people

Insurers have warned that climate change could make cover for ordinary people unaffordable after the world’s largest reinsurance firm blamed global warming for $24bn (£18bn) of losses in the Californian wildfires.

Ernst Rauch, Munich Re’s chief climatologist, told the Guardian that the costs could soon be widely felt, with premium rises already under discussion with clients holding asset concentrations in vulnerable parts of the state.

Read more at: Climate change could make insurance too expensive for most people – report | Climate change | The Guardian

‘USA-Florida: Coming Here In Droves’: Broward Health Facing Double Surge Of Patients

The chief medical officer for Broward Health said his four hospitals are facing a double surge of patients and that has been particularly challenging.

It’s a spike in both unvaccinated COVID patients and others who put off surgeries during the pandemic.

Read more at: ‘Coming Here In Droves’: Broward Health Facing Double Surge Of Patients

EU: Once lagging, Europe catches up to the U.S. in COVID-19 vaccinations

Despite a sluggish start, the European Union’s COVID-19 vaccination drive has caught up to that of the United States, where the slowdown of the country’s once-vaunted campaign has contributed to the virus’s deadly comeback.

Now the EU has surpassed the U.S. by that same measure, with some 60% of the bloc’s residents receiving at least one dose, versus less than 58% of Americans.

Read more at: Once lagging, Europe catches up to the U.S. in COVID-19 vaccinations

Covid-19 Booster Shot: WHO calls for COVID booster jab moratorium to accelerate vaccination in poorer countries

The head of the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on Wednesday for a moratorium on booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines so that those vaccines can be made available to countries that have only been able to inoculate a small proportion of their population.

Read more at: WHO calls for COVID booster jab moratorium to accelerate vaccination in poorer countries | Euronews

Coronavirus - it ain't over yet: World Reaches Grim Milestone of 200 Million COVID Cases Globally, as Delta Variant Surges

The total number of recorded COVID-19 cases worldwide has hit 200 million on Wednesday, according to the John Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center.

This milestone, which does not account for any cases that have gone unrecorded is disconcerting as the world grapples with a surging Delta variant. It is a record number that stands to prove how much the virus has affected the globe as the more infectious variant continues to threaten areas with low vaccination rates and puts immense strains on the world's healthcare systems.

Read more at: World Reaches Grim Milestone of 200 Million COVID Cases Globally, as Delta Variant Surges

Global Warming: How extreme is this year's extreme weather? Here's a closer look

A motorist watches from a pullout on the Trans-Canada Highway as a wildfire burns on the side of a mountain in Lytton, B.C., on July 1. Wealthy countries such as Canada are joining poorer and more vulnerable nations on a growing list of extreme weather events that scientists say have some connection to human-caused climate change. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press)

As the world staggers through another summer of extreme weather, experts are noticing something different: 2021's onslaught is hitting harder and in places that have been spared global warming's wrath in the past.

Read more at How extreme is this year's extreme weather? Here's a closer look | CBC News

EU Travel Restrictions: The Netherlands to stay red on European coronavirus risk map for one more week

The Netherlands will likely remain red on the European coronavirus map for one week longer, AD reported. This means that restrictions against travelers from the Netherlands will continue to apply in a number of countries, including Germany, France and Norway.

Read more at: The Netherlands to stay red on European coronavirus risk map for one more week | NL Times