A team of researchers at a German research hospital found that four common cold coronaviruses that infect humans through the same peak protein mechanism used by SARS-CoV-2 escape the immune system, just like the flu virus.
But the researchers say a good sign for COVID-19 is that coronaviruses have evolved about four times more slowly than flu viruses.
Still, SARS-CoV-2 is mutating at a faster rate than the study’s coronaviruses and is unlikely to decrease until the worldwide infection rate drops dramatically.
Therefore, vaccine producers such as Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are already working on reinforcements to make their vaccines more effective against variants.
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NY, CT among 22 states with more than 10% increase in new cases
New York and Connecticut are among the 22 states that saw an increase of more than 10% in the number of new cases week by week, new data from the Department of Health and Human Services show. Meanwhile, New York and Connecticut join New Jersey on the list of states with the highest case rates nationwide (daily average of 7 days: 310, 225 and 321 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively). Among these states, New Jersey showed the highest positivity of the RT-PCR test in the last seven days (8.8%).
Rise of cases in Connecticut
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health is reminding residents to remain vigilant against COVID-19 as case rates have increased in the past two weeks.
DPH moved several Connecticut cities that had seen COVID-19 case rates dropping or steady back to Red Alert status, as the average daily case rate for COVID-19 increased statewide to 25 cases / 100,000 residents per day.
More than 90% of Connecticut’s population lives in a city with an average daily case rate of more than 15 cases per 100,000 residents. It is estimated that 40% of these new cases are of variant B.1.1.7.
Fauci presents a scenario for when specialists can loosen face mask recommendations
If a new study shows that vaccinations prevent transmission of COVID-19, inoculated Americans can be “much more liberal” in deciding whether or not to wear a face mask, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert. from the USA.
But he also said that he cannot start recommending the removal of facial masks until the daily COVID infections have drastically reduced.
NJ Transit vaccinating bus drivers, public transport workers
New Jersey Transit bus drivers and transit workers will receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. All public transport workers in the state became eligible on March 15. At least 21 NJ Transit employees died of complications from the coronavirus – including 11 bus drivers and a train operator.
The first priest to die of COVID in the USA is remembered
Father Jorge Ortiz-Garay, a Mexican pastor from Brooklyn, became the first priest in the United States to die as a result of COVID-19.
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio will conduct Mass in his memory in Bushwick, Brooklyn, at St. Bridget’s Church on Saturday.
5,000 attend the rock concert in Barcelona after the exhibition of COVID-19
Five thousand music lovers will attend a rock concert in Barcelona after going through a COVID-19 exhibition, to test its effectiveness in preventing outbreaks at major cultural events.
Saturday’s show is authorized by Spanish health authorities. Show participants will undergo an antigen test hours before the show.
Those with a negative test will be able to attend the internal concert and mix freely, although masks are mandatory. The concert is an expanded version of a December case study based on a 500-person concert that organizers said showed no sign of contagion.
NYC COVID tracking initiative
NYC is dedicating $ 600 million to its COVID tracking initiative. More trackers were hired in the first two weeks of March, as cases increased in the post-holiday period.
Because of the renewed effort, the city was able to achieve its goal of reaching at least 90% of people with a positive test – a goal that it had not achieved since Thanksgiving.
NY unveils ‘Excelsior’ digital pass to help businesses and locals reopen
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Friday the launch of the Excelsior Pass, a free, voluntary platform developed in partnership with IBM that uses secure technology to confirm a recent negative PCR result or antigen test or proof of vaccination of an individual. The goal is to speed up the reopening of companies and event venues in accordance with the guidelines of the state Department of Health.
Similar to a mobile airline boarding pass, individuals will be able to print their card or store it on their smartphones using the Excelsior Pass Wallet app. Each pass will have a secure QR code, which participating companies and locations can scan using a complementary application to verify proof of negative results from the COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination.
Spurred on by the blockade, Spain gives a chance to the 4-day week
The experience of reducing one day’s work per week is about to spread across the country, in Spain. A three-year pilot project will use 50 million euros ($ 59 million) from the European Union’s massive coronavirus recovery fund to compensate companies that resize their workforce or reorganize production workflows to adapt to a 32-hour workweek.
Although several companies have already adopted the trend, the pandemic has accelerated it. Supporters say shorter schedules can benefit the balance between work and personal life and three-day weekends can increase consumption. But critics argue that an economy rocked by a pandemic is no basis for experiments.
Israelis gather for Easter, celebrating the release of the virus
The Israelis will once again hold large family gatherings this weekend to celebrate Passover, the festive Jewish holiday reminiscent of the Israelites’ biblical flight from Egypt.
This is thanks to a highly successful coronavirus vaccination campaign that inoculated 80% of the country’s adult population. The authorities have reopened restaurants, hotels, museums and theaters, and allow internal meetings of up to 20 people. It is a total turnaround from last year, when Israel was in its first of three confinements, with people largely confined to their homes.
China describes discoveries about the origin of COVID, before the WHO report
Chinese officials informed diplomats on Friday about ongoing research into the origin of COVID-19, ahead of the long-awaited release of a long-awaited World Health Organization report.
The briefing appeared to be an attempt by China to publicize its opinion on the report, which was involved in a diplomatic feud. The United States and others raised questions about Chinese influence and the independence of the findings, and China accused critics of politicizing a scientific study.
When did you realize that the COVID pandemic changed everything?
Many of us had a moment, usually in March 2020, when we realized that COVID-19 had completely changed our lives forever. Even though we managed to move on and adapt to a new normality, that memory is still with us. Tell us: what was that moment for you?
Top 7 questions about the COVID vaccine answered
You had questions about the COVID-19 vaccines and 7 On Your Side is getting answers from doctors on the front lines of the pandemic.
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