ICYMI:
Starting Tuesday, MIT is offering a weekly class to undergraduates **and the public** called “COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 and the Pandemic.” An impressive lineup of guest speakers are coming. Livestream info here: https://t.co/b1F1sZICCt
— Carl Zimmer (@carlzimmer) August 30, 2020
In Fall 2020, all MIT students and the general public are welcome to join Professors Richard Young and Facundo Batista as they discuss the science of the pandemic during this new class. Special guest speakers include: Anthony Fauci, David Baltimore, Britt Glaunsinger, Bruce Walker, Eric Lander, Michel Nussenzweig, Akiko Iwasaki, Arlene Sharpe, Kizzmekia Corbett, and others. The class will run from September 1, 2020 through December 8, 2020 and begin each Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. ET. See the syllabus for lecture details…
The class is open to all MIT students, as well as any eligible cross-registered students. The live stream will be available to the public, but only registered students may ask questions during the Q&A. To view the live stream, click on this link and type in the password: mit-covid. Miss a class? You’ll be able to view a video of the lecture on this page.
US passes six million coronavirus cases – almost a quarter of the world's total https://t.co/ayJbcESWgZ
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 31, 2020
U.S. CDC reports 182,622 deaths from coronavirus https://t.co/8QtuuWyIZb pic.twitter.com/ZhoQk43itt
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
“With a population of 328 million in the United States, it may require 2.13 million deaths to reach a 65 percent threshold of herd immunity, assuming the virus has a 1 percent fatality rate.” https://t.co/zwMxeN1tO6
— b-boy bouiebaisse (@jbouie) August 31, 2020
SCOOP: As the presidential election fast approaches, HHS is bidding out a more than $250 million contract to a communications firm as it seeks to “defeat despair and inspire hope” about the pandemic, according to an internal HHS document I obtained. https://t.co/qrhygGYRvS
— Daniel Lippman (@dlippman) August 31, 2020
The vast majority of Americans — on both sides of the political aisle — are worried the #Covid19 vaccines approval process will be driven by politics, not science, a @statnews-Harris poll shows. It also reflects high levels of concern about vax safety. https://t.co/49EVMvnrVC
— Helen Branswell (@HelenBranswell) August 31, 2020
======
Track the COVID-19 spread ? https://t.co/fQcfQ642PX pic.twitter.com/f95m1tLj9i
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
Extracts from a long thread:
“No country can just pretend the pandemic is over”, says @drtedros at @WHO presser on #COVID19. "The reality is that this coronavirus spreads easily.
It can be fatal to people of all ages and most people remain susceptible."— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) August 31, 2020
Ensuring safety takes time, says @doctorsoumya. “What is important is to really follow up this cohort in order to assess what could potentially be more serious side effects and make sure that that these are still rare and occur at an acceptable frequency."
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) August 31, 2020
Any large scale use needs to be flanked by close monitoring, @DrMikeRyan points out. “If you move too quickly to vaccinating millions or hundreds of millions or billions of people, you may miss certain adverse events that you won't pick up with smaller numbers."
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) August 31, 2020
“The best way to end this pandemic is through solidarity, through cooperation”, says @drtedros. "Whether we like it or not, we're living in a globalized world. We are intertwined. The only option we have is to move together. And to fight this enemy together."
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) August 31, 2020
On new infections, India is off-the-chart
US was descending, now a 40,000/day new plateau?
European Union rebound now at half of US daily new cases pic.twitter.com/81UtEeh3Of— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) August 31, 2020
India reports nearly two million coronavirus cases in August, the highest monthly tally in the world since the pandemic began https://t.co/58FtlegfJh
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 1, 2020
South Korea ramps up economic stimulus as coronavirus restrictions bite https://t.co/vZPqpvGRun pic.twitter.com/cTXn23rVwS
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
Hong Kong embarks on mass virus testing amid criticism https://t.co/a3FrJBdgVP
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) September 1, 2020
BREAKING: Russia’s coronavirus total surpasses 1 million confirmed cases, the fourth-highest amount in the world after the U.S., Brazil and India. https://t.co/Yatn3g4hht
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 1, 2020
… Experts say the true toll of the pandemic is much higher than all reported figures, due to limited testing, missed mild cases and concealment of cases by some governments, among other factors…
Last month, Russian authorities announced approval of the first ever COVID-19 vaccine — a move that Western experts met with skepticism and unease as the shots were only tested on a few dozen people. Last week, officials announced starting advanced trials of the vaccine among 40,000 people.
It remains unclear whether vaccination of risk groups — such as doctors and teachers — announced earlier this year will be part of the trials or carried out in parallel…
Calling in the Cavalry: Israel has turned to its army to help battle the coronavirus, with a new military "task force” that is playing a leading role in contact tracing and breaking the chain of infections. By @joseffederman. https://t.co/ZkimEpASeW
— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) September 1, 2020
Australia's Victoria state reports 70 new COVID-19 infections in past 24 hours https://t.co/p5l1w5crAB pic.twitter.com/WEc1u5xN6Z
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
Kids are excited but teachers are nervous as many schools in Europe reopen in-class learning. https://t.co/Cu32iBfXeD
— AP Europe (@AP_Europe) August 31, 2020
France's new COVID-19 infections shot up by 50% in August https://t.co/9x135yMAhv pic.twitter.com/SunUY7hJFy
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
Spain reports more than 23,000 new COVID-19 cases since Friday https://t.co/dTwl7RfVsW pic.twitter.com/axlViEG3Gg
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
Venezuela seeks testers for Russian vaccinehttps://t.co/G6X5gv268E
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 31, 2020
Brazil passes 3.9 million coronavirus cases, death toll at 121,381: health ministry https://t.co/uwNTNpzbzm pic.twitter.com/7QwH3akeDm
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
======
New @WHO study shows nearly every country on earth has seen all health services disrupted by the #COVID19 #pandemic — mostly because patients are staying away from health facilities if their problem is non-COVID.https://t.co/HxEGu6GZuK
— Laurie Garrett (@Laurie_Garrett) August 31, 2020
Long #COVID is a condition that lasts weeks to months & is characterized by a constellation of symptoms that varies. @BMJ tackles what's been learned so far & the questions about long haulers now facing primary care doctors https://t.co/K1PCKxZWaB pic.twitter.com/lfD2pET5ch
— delthia ricks ? (@DelthiaRicks) August 31, 2020
Scientists say the COVID-19 vaccines being developed in Russia and China share a potential shortcoming: They are based on a common cold virus that many people have been exposed to, potentially limiting their effectiveness https://t.co/iH3YMuTOxT pic.twitter.com/haByjXF8Sv
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate enters late-stage study in U.S. https://t.co/YuzzCAFfyA pic.twitter.com/6BMetyqyOP
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 1, 2020
======
Because trump decided to reopen schools and now kids are getting sick. This is not rocket science but it is science. https://t.co/ri63CNg1xc
— Molly Jong-Fast?? (@MollyJongFast) August 31, 2020
I'm concerned about new #COVID19 confirmed cases from Harris County (Houston TX) data in this AM's @HoustonChron. After a while of numbers trending downward with a long tail, then a plateau, now maybe starting to go back up? Watching this closely… pic.twitter.com/jJfzl7PZBo
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) August 31, 2020
Weird that other colleges reached out to many of us for advice and planning but our own University wasn’t interested in our help. At first I took it personally but now I’m just sad https://t.co/RQjSGkrD2l
— ?????? ?????????????????????? ?? ???? (@eliowa) August 30, 2020
They had "dreams and plans and a story." Detroit turns island park into memorial garden for victims of COVID-19. https://t.co/7Erp24cep0
— AP Central U.S. (@APCentralRegion) August 31, 2020
OzarkHillbilly
Blech.
John Revolta
“No country can just pretend the pandemic is over”, says @drtedros at @WHO presser
USofA: Hold my beer and watch this!
Brachiator
It’s funny. Anti vaxxers are convinced that vaccines are dangerous. Trump may be trying to prove that they are right.
WereBear
It’s not simply the inability to lead during a federal absence of guidance. It’s the inability to decide using readily available expert advice.
It’s like an invasion of “wishful thinking” they are defiantly acting on.
YY_Sima Qian
Yesterday, China reported 0 new domestic confirmed cases and 0 new domestic asymptomatic case, for the 9th day in a row.
At Ürumqi in Xinjiang “Autonomous” Region, there are currently 34 confirmed and 14 asymptomatic cases, with no cases in serious condition. 15 confirmed cases recovered yesterday and were discharged from hospitals, 6 asymptomatic cases were released from medical quarantine. There are 725 close contacts remaining under quarantine and medical observation.
Yesterday, China reported 10 new imported confirmed cases, 34 imported asymptomatic cases:
Today, Hong Kong reported 12 new cases, 9 from local transmission, 1 of whom do not have clear source of transmission.
Amir Khalid
Malaysia’s daily numbers. 14 new cases. Nine cases from local infection. Five Malaysians: Two in Kedah, one from the Tawar cluster and one from the Telaga cluster; three in Sabah, one screened in prison, one screened in a police lockup, one screened for severe acute respiratory infection. Four non-Malaysians, screened in police lockup in Sabah. Five imported cases, all non-Malaysians, arriving from the Philippines (two), India, Ukraine, and Pakistan. The cumulative reported total is 9,354 cases.
21 more patients recovered and were discharged, for a total of 9,075 patients recovered, 97% of the cumulative reported total. Active and contagious cases currently being isolated/treated in hospital dipped to 151 patients; five are in ICU, three of them on respirators.
Malaysia has reported a Covid-19 death for the third consecutive day, an 80-year-old woman from the Tawar cluster who also had a history of lung cancer and hypertension. The total is now at 128 deaths, 1.37% of the cumulative reported total and 1.39% of resolved cases.
In otwr news, Senior Minister for national security Ismail Sabri Yaacob announced entry restrictions effective 7th September on long-term pass holders from India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, all countries that have had significant increases in new infections. The restrictions apply to permanent residents, Pas Program Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme pass holders, all categories of expatriates including those on a professional visit pass, resident pass holders, spouse visa holders, and students.
Mary G
The OC is really putting out good numbers now. Lots more testing than before, only 94 new cases and percent positive is down to 4.9. We’ve done 9 days off the CA monitoring list and if we make 5 more can be upgraded from widespread transmission to substantial and while indoor bars and restaurants will still be closed, barbers and hair salons can increase from 25% of capacity to 50%.
gkoutnik
Update on SUNY Oneonta. tl:dr: it just keeps getting worse.
Zoom meeting with task force last night – both college presidents (SUNY O and Hartwick), mayor, county Commissioner of Public Health. Provided no confidence that anything was being done to address community spread – majority of student cases (which last night was 177 but lots of test result not in) are off-campus students – whose quarantine is being enforced by – wait for it – a daily video call. And maybe an occasional check-in by Oneonta police.
Stunning contrast between seeming incompetence of SUNY President and system, and Hartwick, with one case (sent home) and complete lockdown (24/7 sentries at entrances). Every Hartwick student who has had contact with a SUCO student must quarantine. Hartwick is much smaller than SUCO, but still…
All Hartwick students had to show a recent negative test result in order to arrive on campus, and will be tested every two weeks going forward. SUCO Prez said they didn’t require tests because they are not reliable enough (?).
The chat was on fire, of course, but none of us could ask questions. How, for instance, are off-campus students getting meals? Are they behind me on line at the grocery store (A: no. We’ve gone to curbside pickup for everything since the outbreak started). Never addressed.
Sorry to go on and on, but it struck me that this virus exploits any failure of leadership at any level, and innocent people pay the price.
rikyrah
” defeat despair and inspire hope”
????
The everloving PHUCK ?
Amir Khalid
@rikyrah:
” defeat despair and inspire hope” = feed optimistic-sounding bullshit to the people
The Thin Black Duke
As Michelle Obama warned us, “it will get worse.”
WereBear
@gkoutnik: No, this is good information! Especially since, as a state, we were doing so well…
TS (the original)
I read the Iowa report (linked at top) & my eyes glazed over at what is happening – and at some of the comments. If the US administration had been anyways competent – if trump had allowed guidelines and rules, none of these GOP Governors would be acting as if COVID-19 had left the planet.
Much of what is being said by the “sane” commenters – wear a mask, don’t party – are surely too little too late. In my part of the world, 1 school with only 400 students has had 2 cases of covid-19. The school is closed for 2 weeks & everyone is being tested.
Amir Khalid
@TS (the original):
If I were running a university over there, I would have warned all incoming students that, in view of the serious health hazard at hand, any partying would be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Scout211
That article about Iowa is really shocking. University of Iowa is my alma mater and I grew up in Iowa. I don’t recognize that state anymore.
Here in California, my grandson was sent home from Chico State (along with all the students currently living on campus and all university sponsored housing). They tried a hybrid model this fall with most students distance learning but a small number of students in class and on campus. They scrapped the in class and on campus model after one week and 30 positive cases.
Robert Sneddon
Scotland — the number of new cases is 154 overnight, a noticeable increase but no deaths of confirmed cases. The test positivity rate has also increased to 1.2%.
No details have been given about where the new cases are developing, the Scottish Government is busy right now presenting its future plans for the year. There will be a parliamentary election for Holyrood next May and the SNP are attempting to show they could govern an independent Scotland rather than simply being a gadfly party pushing for independence as they had been until the early part of this century.
A senior politician in the UK government once said “A week is a long time in politics”. Looking ahead it’s likely that by the time those elections come around we’ll still be reeling from the impact of COVID-19 on the economy (even with the expected rollout of a working vaccine) and Britain’s final exit from the EU’s Customs Union and Free Trade Area will have happened and borne first fruit. It’s likely by then that the opinion in Scotland for another referendum on independence is going to be high and a sweeping SNP victory in the polls next May will only cement that. It’s notable that a number of older SNP MSPs are retiring in May, making way for new blood candidates in preparation for a push for independence which will be a hard-fought campaign.
Sloane Ranger
Figures from the rest of the UK, there were a total of 1,295 new cases reported today. After remaining relatively stable, the trend line has begun to move upwards, if only slightly. It will be interesting to see how school (this week) and University (later this month), opening in England affects the figures.
Broken down by nation, 1,041 new cases in England, 49 in Northern Ireland and 51 in Wales plus the cases Robert Sneddon reported earlier for Scotland.
There were 3 deaths, 2 in England and 1 in Wales.
That’s really all that’s new.
Sloane Ranger
@Robert Sneddon: It looks increasingly likely we will leave without a deal which is going to hurt almost everyone, but BoJo the Clown has already said that Scotland has had its once in a generation referendum and another’s not on the table.
As UK government agreement is required in order to hold a legal referendum, it’s going to be a struggle. Sturgeon could go the Catalonia route but that didn’t end well for the separatists. Civil disobedience, whether protests, tax strikes, general strikes also have their downsides.
On the other hand, English public opinion is turning against the government, at least currently, and a number of senior Tory back-benchers are very browned off with constant governmental u-turns.
“We live in interesting times” is, indeed, a curse.
Robert Sneddon
@Sloane Ranger: PM Johnson has said a lot of things, many of which he fervently desires are lost in the mists of time.
He will be in deep shit by the time next summer rolls around with Brexit and the COVID-19 recession hammering living standards and an economy bereft of hundreds of thousands of EU workers who were doing stuff here (the construction industry is a big employer of cheap EU labour), spending money and paying taxes. A lot of those workers have legged it in the face of nakedly hostile racist abuse from the anti-immigrant Little Englanders who voted for Boris and Brexit last November.
There’s a coldly political power-grab factor for him and/or his Conservative successors to consider — if they allow Scotland to go its own way the UK Parliament will lose a number of solidly anti-Conservative constituency MPs, reinforcing the inbuilt Con majority in Parliament where it counts. Right now the SNP has 48 seats in Parliament but if Scotland becomes independent they go away. The loss of a handful of Conservative Scottish seats (6 at the moment) would be well worth it in simple profit-and-loss terms.
Sloane Ranger
@Robert Sneddon: There is that consideration but don’t forget the Tories don’t like losers and the loss of 1/3 of the UK’s landmass with the threat of encouraging separatism in Wales and and calls for NI to rejoin the Republic is the biggest loss since Indian independence (and that didn’t affect the unity of the home nations).
Robert Sneddon
@Sloane Ranger: It locks in the Conservative hold on power in majority-right-wing England which, remember, has about 85% of the entire population of the UK. There’s already unrest in the ranks about how the lazy welfare-dependent Scots are leeching off English taxpayers (the Barnett formula) and the rebellious Scots[1] are all EU fifth-columnists who want to surrender British sovereignty to the EU again and… Scottish independence wouldn’t actually be a hard sell to most English Tories and those are the ones that count. Add in a figleaf of allowing The Queen to be the Head of State of the new nation and many of the Brexit types would be happy to say “good riddance!”
[1] Scots get an entire verse of the UK’s National Anthem to ourselves, not very complimentary though.
“Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,
May by thy mighty aid,
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
and like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush,
God save the King.”
It’s quite some way down the list of verses though, well past the “tum-te-tum” point.
Sloane Ranger
@Robert Sneddon: Yes, I’m aware of the verse. As you say it’s a long way down the list. It was written during the Jacobite Rebellion and, like the verse in the US National Anthem about killing escaped slaves, never actually sung today.
You’re right, I have heard committed Brexiteers say good riddance to bad rubbish or even let them go, they’ll be back within a few years begging to be let back in on their knees but I’ve heard others refuse to even think about it because of the loss of international prestige and face it would bring. An admission of our reduced world status. My feeling is that the latter view is the stronger one among Tory power-brokers. We’ll see in due course.
Full disclosure- I was born a citizen (well, initially a subject, but got an upgrade) of the United Kingdom and I would like to die one so I hope that Scotland decides to stay in the union.