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WHO official warns of a 'very serious situation' as cases rise in Europe Coronavirus cases in Europe have been increasing dramatically, with more than 300,000 new cases reported last week, according to CNBC . In the past two weeks, more than half of European countries reported greater than a 10% increase in cases and seven of those countries reported a two-fold increase, Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization's regional director for Europe said at a press briefing today, according to CNBC. “We have a very serious situation unfolding before us,” Kluge said. “Weekly cases have now exceeded those reported when the pandemic first peaked in Europe in March.” France recorded 9,784 new cases on Wednesday, just below their record of 10,561 new cases recorded on Saturday, according to CNBC. The number of new cases has been increasing rapidly in Spain; the country recorded 11,193 new cases yesterday, according to The New York Times . Other countries including the U.K., Italy and Turkey are also seeing increases in cases.

People who wear eyeglasses may be at lower risk of catching COVID-19, early study suggests People who wear eyeglasses may be at lower risk for catching COVID-19 than those who don't wear glasses, early research suggests, Live Science reported . Researchers in China analyzed data from 276 hospital patients in China's Hubei province and found that only 6% said they wore glasses for more than 8 hours a day because they had nearsightedness or myopia, according to the report published Wednesday (Sept. 16) in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology . But previous research found that the estimated rate of myopia in Hubei was much higher at about 31.5%. The new study "is provocative and raises the possibility that use of eye protection by the general public might offer some degree of protection from COVID-19," Dr. Lisa Maragakis, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, wrote in an editorial accompanying the study. But it's too early to recommend everyone wear eyeglasses, goggles or face shields, in addition to wearing face masks to protect against COVID-19, she said. The study has a number of limitations including that it was very small and included patients in a single hospital. The study only found an association and did not prove a "cause-effect" relationship between wearing glasses and being protected from COVID-19, Maragakis said. The researchers didn't study why glasses may reduce the risk of COVID-19 but they hypothesize that people who wear glasses touch their eyes less, reducing the chances the virus will transfer from their hands to their eyes, according to the report. Previous research has shown that eye cells have receptors that allow the virus to enter the body, according to the report.

A small wedding in Maine led to seven deaths, all among people who did not attend A small, rural wedding held in Maine has now led to more than 175 COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, including six deaths among residents of the Maplecrest Rehabilitation and Living Center in Madison, Maine, according to The Washington Post . All of the deaths were among people who did not attend the wedding, showing just how easily large gatherings can cause super-spreader events. The cases that have stemmed from the wedding that took place on Aug. 7 in the Big Moose Inn outside Millinocket continues to grow across the state, according to the Post. Guests at the wedding were not following social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines. This wedding isn't the only super-spreading event that has led to a large number of cases, according to the Post. Between 10 to 20% of people who are infected with the novel coronavirus are responsible for 80% of the spread, Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for the World Health Organization’s Health Emergencies Program, said at a news briefing Thursday, according to the Post.

More than 75% of US children who are dying from COVID-19 are minorities More than 75% of children in the U.S. who are dying from COVID-19 are minorities, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Between February 12 and July 31, a total of 391,814 COVID-19 cases were confirmed or probable among children under the age of 21, according to the study. Among 121 children under the age of 21 who died of COVID-19 before August, 94 of them (78%) were Hispanic, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native, according to the study. Children under the age of 21 "should be monitored for complications," the authors wrote. Careful monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 infections, deaths and other severe outcomes among children "remains particularly important as schools reopen in the United States." These disparities are also well-documented among adults. The coronavirus' death toll among adults in the U.S. is twice as high in people of color than for White Americans, according to The Washington Post .

COVID-19 may eventually become a seasonal illness COVID-19 may eventually become a seasonal illness like the flu, according to a review published Tuesday (Sept. 15) in the journal Frontiers in Public Health . But that's only when a population achieves herd immunity; in other words, a sufficient number of people become immune to the virus to prevent constant spread, according to a Live Science report . But until then, COVID-19 will likely spread year-round, a finding that highlights the importance of following public health measures to control the virus, according to the report. "COVID-19 is here to stay and it will continue to cause outbreaks year-round until herd immunity is achieved," study senior author Hassan Zaraket, of the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, said in a statement . "Therefore, the public will need to learn to live with it and continue practicing the best prevention measures, including wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene and avoidance of gatherings."

The novel coronavirus can infect brain cells, a new study finds A new study finds that SARS-CoV-2 can infect brain cells and use the cells’ internal machinery to copy itself, according to a Live Science report . The new study is the first to provide direct evidence that the new coronavirus can infect brain cells, but hasn’t yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, according to the report. The findings were posted Sept. 8 to the preprint database bioRxiv . The coronavirus had previously been linked to various forms of brain damage from deadly inflammation to encephalopathies, brain diseases that can cause confusion, brain fog and delirium. The researchers conducted a three-part experiment to see whether SARS-CoV-2 could break into brain cells, according to the report. They examined autopsied brain tissue from three patients who died from COVID-19, they conducted experiments in mice infected with COVID-19 and experiments in organoids, a group of cells grown in a lab dish to mimic the 3D structure of brain tissue, according to the report. In the autopsied tissue, the researchers found the virus had infected some neurons in the cerebral cortex. In the organoids, the researchers found that the virus could enter neurons through the ACE2 receptor, the protein on human cell surfaces that the virus uses to enter, trigger infection and hijack the cell's’ machinery to make copies of itself. But it’s not clear if this is also taking place in people.

Eating out may be riskier for catching COVID-19 than riding public transportation or getting a haircut, according to a report Eating out may be riskier for catching COVID-19 than riding public transportation or getting a haircut at a salon, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . The researchers analyzed information from 314 adults who tested for COVID-19 in the U.S., Live Science reported . About half of the participants tested positive, while the other half tested negative, according to the report. People who tested positive for COVID-19 were twice as likely to report dining at a restaurant in the 14 days prior to becoming sick than those who tested negative, according to the report. And when the researchers excluded people who had a known contact with COVID-19, they found that those who tested positive were nearly three times more likely to report dining at a restaurant, and nearly four times more likely to report going to a bar or coffee shop, than those who tested negative, according to the report. No other activities from the survey linked with an increased risk of COVID-19. The authors note that one limitation of their study is that it did not distinguish between indoor and outdoor dining, according to the report.

US will stop coronavirus screenings for international travelers, CDC says Starting on Monday (Sept. 14), the federal government will stop coronavirus health screenings for international travelers, according to a statement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . This means flights from certain countries won't be required to redirect and land in one of 15 designated airports, according to the statement. The health screening is currently conducted for those arriving from or have recently traveled to China, Iran, the Schengen region of Europe, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil. "We now have a better understanding of COVID-19 transmission that indicates symptom-based screening has limited effectiveness because people with COVID-19 may have no symptoms or fever at the time of screening, or only mild symptoms," the CDC wrote in the statement. "Transmission of the virus may occur from passengers who have no symptoms or who have not yet developed symptoms of infection." Resources will now be redirected toward other mitigation efforts to reduce disease transmission, the agency wrote. These mitigation efforts include "health education for passengers" and "robust illness response at airports," according to the statement.

Scientists praise AstraZeneca's decision to pause coronavirus vaccine trials after participant develops neurological symptoms Scientists praised AstraZeneca’s decision to pause its coronavirus vaccine trials after a participant developed a serious neurological condition, according to The New York Times . This pause “ought to be reassuring,” Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health said at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, according to the Times. An independent safety review will be conducted to determine if the vaccine caused the condition or the participant developed it coincidentally. The participant, a woman in the U.K., developed neurological symptoms often seen with a condition called transverse myelitis where the spinal cord becomes inflamed, according to a Live Science report .

Coronavirus may dice heart muscle fibers into tiny pieces The new coronavirus may wreak havoc on heart cells. In a new study that examined infected heart cells in lab dishes, the researchers saw that the virus appeared to slice heart muscle fibers into small, precisely sized fragments, Live Science reported . The finding, posted to the preprint database bioRXiv on Aug. 25, is unlike anything researchers have seen before — no other disease is known to affect heart cells in this way, the authors said. What's more, an analysis of autopsy samples of heart tissue from three COVID-19 patients hinted that the same phenomenon may happen in people as well. The new finding may explain how COVID-19 inflicts damage to the heart. However, the study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, and more research is needed to confirm the findings in people.

AstraZeneca pauses coronavirus vaccine trials due to an unexplained illness AstraZeneca paused global clinical trials of its candidate coronavirus vaccine that was developed with the University of Oxford after an unexplained illness in one of the participants, according to CNN . However, it's not yet clear if this illness was a serious adverse effect of the vaccine or a chance occurrence. "This is a routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials, while it is investigated, ensuring we maintain the integrity of the trials," the company said on Tuesday (Sept. 9) in a statement to CNN. "In large trials, illnesses will happen by chance but must be independently reviewed to check this carefully. We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline. We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials," according to the statement. The company is currently conducting clinical trials to test its vaccine in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa, according to CNN. It is one of three vaccines in phase 3 trials in the U.S., according to CNN. AstraZeneca was one of eight companies that signed a pledge this week saying they wouldn't push for government approval for coronavirus vaccines until they were thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy.

More than half a million children in the US have tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic More than half a million children have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). That represents about 9.8% of all cases in most states (one state did not provide age demographics data). Between Aug. 20 to Sept. 3, there were 70,630 new cases of COVID-19 in children, an increase of 16%. In 23 states and NYC, children made up 0.7% to 3.7% of total reported hospitalizations and 0.3% to 8.3% of children who had COVID-19 ended up hospitalized, according to the report. Mortality remains low among children, who only make up 0% to 0.3% of all COVID-19 deaths in the 42 states that reported on this data. In 18 of those states, zero children have died from COVID-19. Of the child COVID-19 cases, 0% to 0.2% resulted in death. “These numbers are a chilling reminder of why we need to take this virus seriously,” AAP President Dr. Sara “Sally” Goza said in a statement. “While much remains unknown about COVID-19, we do know that the spread among children reflects what is happening in the broader communities. A disproportionate number of cases are reported in Black and Hispanic children and in places where there is high poverty. We must work harder to address societal inequities that contribute to these disparities.”

Nine pharmaceutical companies issue pledge to not push out a coronavirus vaccine until thoroughly evaluated Nine pharmaceutical companies issued a pledge on Tuesday (Sep. 8) that they would not push out a coronavirus vaccine until it was thoroughly tested for safety and efficacy, according to The New York Times . This follows fears that a coronavirus vaccine could be approved before it’s thoroughly tested or ready due to political intentions, as President Trump has repeatedly claimed that a vaccine could be available before Election Day on Nov. 3, according to the Times. “We believe this pledge will help ensure public confidence in the rigorous scientific and regulatory process by which Covid-19 vaccines are evaluated and may ultimately be approved,” the companies said in a statement, according to the Times. The nine companies that took the pledge were Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, BioNTech (developing the vaccine in collaboration with Pfizer), GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novavax and Sanofi. “With increasing public concerns about the processes that we are using to develop these vaccines and even more importantly the processes that will be used to evaluate these vaccines we saw it as critical to come out and reiterate our commitment that we will develop our products, our vaccines using the highest ethical standards and the most scientific rigor processes,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said on The Today Show on Tuesday. All the companies in this pledge are saying that “we will only submit for authorization when we have evidence of safety and efficacy that are coming from a well-designed phase 3 study,” he added. Pfizer could know by the end of October if their candidate vaccine is safe and effective, he said.

A coronavirus vaccine candidate developed in Russia prompted an immune response and didn't cause serious adverse reactions in early trials, according to new data released today in the journal The Lancet. This data was released weeks after Russia announced that it had approved its vaccine for the general population (but had actually only approved it for a small group of people), drawing criticism from public health experts who said there was not enough data to prove the vaccine was safe and effective. Between June 18 and Aug. 3, the researchers enrolled 76 healthy participants between 18 and 60 years old to be given the candidate vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, in one of two Russian hospitals, Live Science reported. In total, 18 volunteers received one formulation of the vaccine, another 18 received another and 40 people received both. "Both vaccine formulations were safe and well tolerated," the researchers wrote in the paper. None of the participants had serious adverse effects, the researchers wrote. The vaccine generated an immune response in all participants, prompting the immune systems to produce neutralizing antibodies (molecules that can latch onto the virus and block it from infecting cells) and other immune cells, such as T cells, against the coronavirus. The researchers noted in the paper that neutralizing antibody levels were lower than those reported for the University of Oxford vaccine and other vaccines, such as Moderna's based on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. But the level of neutralizing antibodies was comparable with the amount of neutralizing antibodies that the body develops naturally in patients who recover from COVID-19.

Fauci urges Americans to continue coronavirus mitigation strategies as the U.S. heads into Labor Day Weekend As Labor Day weekend approaches, public health experts are worried that coronavirus cases in the U.S. will surge again. Previous surges were recorded after Memorial Day and the 4th of July, according to CNBC . Dr. Anthony Fauci, the directory of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases urged Americans on Wednesday to continue coronavirus mitigation strategies as Labor Day approached, according to CNN : “The issue that we're facing right now is we're entering in a day or two right now into the Labor Day weekend and we know from prior experience that when you get into holiday weekends — the Fourth of July, Memorial Day — there's a tendency of people to be careless, somewhat, with regard to the public health measures that we keep recommending over and over again,” Fauci said in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday. "So I really want to use this opportunity almost to have a plea to the people in this country to realize that we really still need to get our arms around this and to suppress these types of surges that we've seen. We can do it." “You can have an enjoyable weekend, but you can do a couple of fundamental things that we talk about all the time,” he said. “Masks, distance, avoiding crowds, outdoors much more than indoors, washing your hands — those types of simple things.” The U.S. is seeing an "unacceptably high" number of coronavirus cases as it heads into the fall, Fauci said. Currently, the country is recording roughly 40,000 new cases a day, a number that needs to drop below 10,000, Fauci said during the interview with MSNBC, according to CNBC .

Actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson reveals he tested positive for COVID-19 along with his entire family Actor Dwayne Johnson has revealed that he and his family tested positive for COVID-19. In a video posted on Instagram , Johnson, also known as The Rock, said that his family had been under "lockdown" since March, but recently decided to have some close family friends over to their house. It was after this gathering that he developed the illness along with his wife and two young daughters, according to The Washington Post . "I wish it was only me who tested positive, but it wasn't, it was my entire family, so this one was a real kick in the gut," Johnson said. Johnson's children had mild symptoms, developing "a little sore throat" for a few days, he said. But he and his wife, Lauren Hashian, "had a rough go" with the virus, the Post reported. Fortunately, Johnson said that he and his family have now recovered. "I am happy to tell you guys that we as a family are good … we are on the other side, we are no longer contagious and we are, thank god, we are healthy," he said. "We are counting our blessings right now because we are well aware that it isn't always the case you get on the other end of COVID-19 stronger and healthier." Johnson urged his fans to be cautious about gatherings, even with close friends. "If you guys are having family and friends over to your house, you know them, you trust them, they've been quarantining just like you guys, you still never know. You never know," Johnson said. He added that his family will now require anyone coming over to their house to take a COVID-19 test first.

CDC said vaccines might be ready by October or November and sent planning documents to public health agencies to prepare — Last week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent planning documents to public health agencies across the U.S. to prepare for two coronavirus vaccines that they didn’t identify but referred to as “Vaccine A” and “Vaccine B,” according to The New York Times . The time between doses, storage temperatures and other technical details seem to be similar with Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, which are the furthest (phase 3) in U.S. clinical trials, according to the Times. In earlier clinical trials conducted on a smaller group of people, the candidate vaccines developed by both companies didn’t show any serious adverse effects and both prompted the immune system to make neutralizing antibodies, which prevent the virus from entering cells, according to a previous Live Science report . Though both vaccines have gone through these early tests, it's not yet confirmed in a large group of people that they’re safe and effective. In the planning documents, the CDC said the unidentified vaccines might be ready by October or November, according to the Times. Some experts are worried that vaccines will be rushed out before the election. “It’s hard not to see this as a push for a pre-election vaccine,” Saskia Popescu, an infection prevention epidemiologist in Arizona told the Times. — By the Numbers: There have now been more than 26 million cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide and more than 863,700 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . In the U.S., there have now been more than 6.1 million cases of COVID-19 reported and more than 185,700 deaths; In Brazil, there have now been more than 3.9 million cases of COVID-19 reported and more than 123,700 deaths; In India, there have now been more than 3.8 million cases of COVID-19 reported and more than 67,300 deaths, according to the dashboard.

New analysis provides further evidence that certain corticosteroids can help save critically ill COVID-19 patients A new analysis of data from seven clinical trials provides further evidence that cheap, widely available steroids can help save critically ill COVID-19 patients, according to a new Live Science report . The analysis was published today (Sep. 2) in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Based on the results, the World Health Organization updated its treatment guidelines for corticosteroids , recommending that those with a severe COVID-19 infection receive the drugs for seven to 10 days as their new standard of care. Those with mild infections shouldn't get steroids, however, because "current data indicated they would not likely derive benefit and may derive harm" from taking the drugs, according to the guidelines. The trials tested either dexamethasone or one of two other steroids, hydrocortisone and methylprednisolone. The steroids work by suppressing the immune response, reducing inflammation in the body, causing blood vessels to constrict and helping to reduce fibrosis, or the development of thick scar tissue, according to the report.

Fauci predicts there will be a 'safe and effective' coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases predicts that there will be a safe and effective coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year, according to NBC News . "I believe that by the time we get to the end of this calendar year that we will feel comfortable that we do have a safe and effective vaccine," Fauci said yesterday on NBC's "TODAY" show. In a number of vaccine trials, there is "enough data that you would really feel comfortable it was safe and effective for the American public," he said, according to NBC. Before the upcoming flu season, the U.S. should work hard to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, Fauci said. “What I'd really like to see is a full court press to get us way down as a baseline, so that when you get these cases in the fall, they won't surge up,” he said, according to NBC News.

New York City delays start of the academic school year — A new visualization shows why face shields and masks with exhalation valves may not prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to a Live Science report . A group of researchers connected a mannequin's head to a fog machine and used a pump to expel vapor out of the mannequin's mouth, according to a Live Science report. This same group had previously shown that some cotton face masks reduced the spread of droplets after a cough to only a few inches from the face, Live Science previously reported . In this new study, published Tuesday (Sept. 1) in the journal Physics of Fluids , the researchers found that although face shields initially blocked droplets, small droplets easily moved around the sides of the visor and eventually spread over a large area, according to the report. They also found that coughing behind masks with exhalation valves, allows a stream of droplets to pass unfiltered through the valve, according to the report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend either of those masks as alternatives to cloth masks, according to the report. — New York City delayed the start of the academic school year for several days to prevent a teacher's strike and to allow more time for classroom preparation , according to The Washington Post . Previously, the more than 1 million students enrolled in New York City public schools would have started remotely and in-person learning on Sept. 10. Now, the children will start remote learning on Sept. 16 and in-person learning on Sept. 21. But more than 360,000 families have chosen to have their children remotely learn only, according to the Post. “It is a revision that still allows us to keep things moving forward on a tight timeline, but with additional preparation time,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said, according to the Post.

AstraZeneca starts enrolling for phase 3 trial in the U.S. — AstraZeneca started enrolling 30,000 participants in a U.S.-funded phase 3 trial of its candidate vaccine, developed by the University of Oxford, according to Reuters. The participants in the U.S. will receive either a placebo or two doses of the experimental vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The candidate vaccine is already in late-stage trials in Britain, Brazil and South Africa and trials are planned for Japan and Russia, according to Reuters. All together, the plan is to enroll up to 50,000 participants in late-stage trials of the vaccine across the globe (including the phase 3 trial in the U.S.), according to the statement. — U.S. company Novavax will supply 76 million doses of its candidate coronavirus vaccine to Canada, according to CNBC . The company expects to finalize the agreement which would supply Canada with the vaccine doses “as early as the second quarter of 2021,” as long as the vaccine gets a license from Health Canada, the company said, according to CNBC. The vaccine, caed NVX-CoV2373, is currently in phase 2 trials, according to CNBC.

Monkeys are in short supply for COVID-19 vaccine research, FDA commissioner says vaccines could be given approval before the end of phase 3 trials — COVID-19 vaccines typically get tested in monkeys before they're tested in humans, but monkeys are in short supply, according to The Atlantic . Even before the pandemic, the U.S. was approaching a potential monkey shortage — and now, with a high demand for monkeys along with China's strict bans on the transport and sale of wildlife, there are not enough primates for vaccine research, according to a Live Science report . To conserve the nation's supply, labs are sharing primates across multiple studies by using them as a control group — a comparison group that does not receive the experimental treatment or vaccine being tested, according to the report. — The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says that coronavirus vaccines may be given emergency approval before rigorous clinical trials are complete, according to news reports. "It is up to the sponsor [vaccine developer] to apply for authorization or approval, and we make an adjudication of their application," Dr. Stephen Hahn, the FDA Commissioner told The Financial Times . "If they do that before the end of phase three, we may find that appropriate. We may find that inappropriate, we will make a determination." But approving vaccines too soon can be risky, public health officials have warned. Only a couple of coronavirus vaccine candidates in the U.S. have advanced to phase 3 clinical trials, which are the most critical tests needed to prove, in tens of thousands of people, that a vaccine is both safe and effective at preventing COVID-19. Typically, a vaccine must pass these advanced trials before given approval — but the pandemic has pushed vaccine development to unprecedented timescales.

India now has the third-highest death toll from the coronavirus — By the numbers: The global coronavirus case count has now surpassed 25 million, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . More than 846,800 people have now died from the virus worldwide. In the U.S., nearly 6 million people have been infected with the virus and more than 183,000 have died; in Brazil, more than 3.8 million people have been infected and more than 120,800 have died; In India, more than 3.6 million people have been infected and more than 64,400 have died, according to the dashboard. — India now has the third-highest death toll from the coronavirus in the world, following the United States and Brazil, according to The New York Times . The country has been reporting more than 75,000 new infections a day for the past five days, according to the Times. The rise in cases comes as India continues to ease severe lockdowns it had put in place in the spring, but officials say the rise is also partly due to an increase in testing, according to the Times. — Last week, a young adult in Nevada was confirmed to have been infected with the coronavirus twice, marking the first confirmed case of reinfection in the U.S., and the fourth in the world, according to a Live Science report . This past week, researchers reported cases of reinfection in a patient in Hong Kong and two patients in Europe; but in all three cases, the patients either developed a milder form of COVID-19 or were asymptomatic the second time around, according to NBC News. But according to the new case study, the 25-year-old Nevada patient developed more severe symptoms the second time he was infected. His case was published as a preprint on the Social Science Research Network (SSRN) and hasn't yet been peer-reviewed. The researchers have submitted their paper to the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Local health officials urge CDC to reverse change in COVID-19 testing guidance, University of Arizona says sewage screening may have prevented dorm outbreak — Officials from local U.S. health departments are urging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reverse a recent change the agency made to its COVID-19 testing guidelines. On Friday (Aug. 28), two groups that represent thousands of local health departments sent a letter to the CDC stating that they are "incredibly concerned" about the revised guidance, which now says that people exposed to COVID-19 don't necessarily need a test if they aren't showing symptoms. The change has been widely criticized since it appeared on the CDC's website earlier this week, Live Science previously reported . "Changing testing guidelines to suggest that close contacts to confirmed [COVID-19] positives without symptoms do not need to be tested is inconsistent with the science and the data," according to the letter, from members of The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the Big Cities Health Coalition (BCHC), which represent nearly 3,000 local health departments. What's more "this abrupt change has caused confusion, consternation and undermined the credibility of the agency with public health professionals and the public alike," the letter said. The letter urged the agency to "pull the revised guidance and revert back to the previous consensus policy where people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 are encouraged to get tested, know their status, and do all they can to physically distance and stop the spread." — Officials at the University of Arizona (UA) say they may have prevented a COVID-19 outbreak in one of the university's dorms by screening sewage from the residences. The university has been screening wastewater for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as one strategy to help catch cases among the 5,000 students returning to campus this week, according to The Washington Post . Recently, a wastewater sample from one of the dorms came back positive, prompting staff to test all 311 people who live in the dorm, the Post reported. Two students tested positive, but were still asymptomatic. The university quickly quarantined the students to prevent further spread. “Nobody would have known [about the cases] otherwise," Dr. Richard Carmona, a former U.S. Surgeon General who is leading UA's reopening effort, said in a news conference on Thursday (Aug. 27), according to AZCentral . "But with that early detection, we jumped on it right away, tested those youngsters and got them the appropriate isolation where they needed to be."

FEMA is working to distribute aid to people impacted by Hurricane Laura but taking precautions amid pandemic The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said it’s working to distribute aid to people in need who were in the path of Hurricane Laura, but that they were taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to NPR . Hurricane Laura made landfall in Texas and Louisiana early Thursday as a Category 4 storm, flooding roadways, scattering debris, leaving people without power and sending thousands to shelters, according to NPR. Though the storm was less catastrophic than predicted, it still significantly damaged communities, according to NPR. On Wednesday, more than 10,000 people left their homes for other shelters in Texas and Louisiana but due to COVID-19 concerns, many of those people sheltered in hotel rooms and college dorms, according to NPR. The pandemic has also made it more difficult to bring aid to people; people are delivering aid with limited contact and responders are using photographs and phone calls to assess damage rather than sending in-person inspectors, for example.

FDA authorizes new, rapid antigen test and health officials express concerns about misleading hand sanitizer containers — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a new, rapid antigen test for COVID-19, which costs $5 and can diagnose an infection in 15 minutes, according to a Live Science report . The test, made by Abbott Labs, is the size of a credit card and does not require any lab equipment to run. Rather, the device has a similar design to some pregnancy tests, allowing health care providers to read test results directly from the testing card, the FDA said. A patient is given a nasal swab, which is then inserted into the test card. The test is designed to look for small proteins on the surface of the coronavirus, according to an approval letter from the FDA . If such proteins are present in the sample, the test, known as the "BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card," will display a colored line to indicate a COVID-19 infection. The test has demonstrated 97.1% sensitivity and 98.5% specificity, according to Abbott. When a test is sensitive, it means that it correctly diagnoses most people who are infected with the virus; whereas when a test is specific, it means it doesn't have many "false positives," according to a previous Live Science report . — Health officials are concerned that people may accidentally ingest hand sanitizer products that are being packaged in misleading containers that are typically used in food and drinks, according to another Live Science report . On Thursday (Aug. 27), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers about these products, which have been packaged in a variety of potentially misleading containers, including beer cans, water bottles, juice bottles, vodka bottles and children's food pouches, the agency said in a statement . In addition, officials have found hand sanitizers with food flavors, such as chocolate and raspberry, according to the report. Hand sanitizers typically contain 60% to 70% alcohol, so can be toxic when ingested, particularly for young children who may develop alcohol poisoning, according to the report.

CDC abruptly switches its COVID-19 testing guidelines, frustrating public health experts In an abrupt switch, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changed its COVID-19 testing guidance to say that being exposed to a person with the disease doesn't necessarily warrant a test if you're not in a high-risk group or showing any symptoms, according to a Live Science report . But public health officials are criticizing this sudden change, which a federal health official told CNN was a result of pressure from upper ranks of the Trump administration. Current evidence on COVID-19 transmission has not changed: The virus continues to infect many people who don't end up developing any symptoms, and who can silently spread the disease to others. "These testing recommendations make no scientific sense, unless there are plans to demand isolation of all known contacts of COVID-19," said Krys Johnson, an assistant professor of instruction in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Temple University in Pennsylvania. It's not clear what percentage of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic; some estimates say around 10 to 20%, but the CDC estimates about 40% . "If each of these people goes about their daily lives, this pandemic will continue to impact our country and daily lives for the foreseeable future, regardless of the advent of a vaccine," Johnson told Live Science in an email. "I actually didn’t believe it, for it seemed entirely bizarre,” California's Santa Clara County public health director Sara Cody said on Wednesday, according to the San Jose Mercury News . “The truth is that if you’ve been in contact with someone who is infected with COVID, you absolutely need to get a test.”

A wedding leads to an outbreak in Maine, COVID-19 cases surpass 24 million worldwide — A wedding held on Aug. 7 in Maine led to at least 60 COVID-19 infections, including an outbreak at a jail, according to CBS News . A staff member at the York County Jail in Alfred attended the wedding and was one of the first at the jail to test positive. Since then, seven inmates, nine staff members and two York County government employees in that complex have tested positive for the virus, according to CBS News. Another outbreak made up of six cases at the Maplecrest Rehabilitation Center in Madison was also linked to the wedding, according to CBS News. "What we've learned about COVID-19 is that it can be the uninvited guest at every single wedding, party or event in Maine," Dr. Nirav Shah, the director of Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said during a news conference yesterday, according to CBS News . "The virus is where we are, and then it comes home with us." — The number of COVID-19 cases have now surpassed 24 million worldwide and deaths have reached more than 821,000, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . The U.S. has reported more than 5.8 million cases and more than 179,300 deaths, Brazil has reported more than 3.6 million cases and more than 116,500 deaths, India has reported more than 3.2 million cases and more than 59,400 deaths.

Two more patients in Europe were confirmed to have been re-infected with the coronavirus Two people in Europe were recently confirmed to have been re-infected with COVID-19, according to Reuters . This comes two days after researchers announced the first confirmed case of reinfection in a Hong Kong patient, according to a previous Live Science report . The 33-year-old man in Hong Kong was infected with two genetically different strains of the coronavirus, months apart, according to the report. The other two cases, a patient in her 50s in Belgium and an elderly patient in the Netherlands (with a weakened immune system), were also reinfected with two genetically different strains of the coronavirus months apart, according to Reuters. There will likely be reports of other reinfection cases, but they are probably exceptions, Belgian virologist Marc Van Ranst told Reuters TV. The new coronavirus appears to be more stable than the influenza virus, he said. But “viruses mutate and that means that a potential vaccine is not going to be a vaccine that will last forever, for 10 years, probably not even five years. Just as for flu, this will have to be redesigned quite regularly,” he said.

A Boston conference held in February may have led to 20,000 COVID-19 cases, researchers say A Biogen conference held in February at the Boston Marriott Long Wharf might have led to 20,000 COVID-19 cases, according to a new study. Previously, only 99 cases had been linked to the conference, according to The Boston Globe . In this new study, that has not yet been peer-reviewed but published into the preprint server MedRxiv, a group of researchers studied the genetic makeup of coronaviruses that infected 772 patients mostly residing in four Massachusetts counties. By studying mutations that naturally occur in virus genomes, they were able to pinpoint and track different introductions of the virus to the area. The researchers found that the coronavirus had been introduced into the Boston area more than 80 times by international and domestic travelers between late January and early May, according to the Globe. More than one-third of the patients, or 289 of 772, had the virus variant that was traced back to the Biogen conference. The 20,000 number doesn't appear in the paper and is an extrapolation from the data that the researchers shared in interviews, according to the Globe. At the start of the conference, only 15 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in the U.S., according to The Washington Post. It was a period when not much was known about the virus and before widespread social distancing and mask-wearing took hold. "February 2020 was nearly a half year ago, and was a period when general knowledge about the coronavirus was limited," Biogen said in a statement on Tuesday, according to NBC Boston . "We were adhering closely to the prevailing official guidelines. We never would have knowingly put anyone at risk. When we learned a number of our colleagues were ill, we did not know the cause was COVID-19, but we immediately notified public health authorities and took steps to limit the spread." "It speaks to the power of that virus to move from one person to another to another to another, if people wear masks, don’t social distance, don’t take seriously the fact that the fundamental strength of COVID-19 its ability to get from one person to the next," Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said in a press conference on Tuesday, according to NBC Boston.

University of Alabama reports 531 COVID-19 cases since campus reopened, Florida judge blocks state's requirement that public schools must offer in-person classes — Since classes began on Aug. 19, the University of Alabama reported a total of 531 confirmed COVID-19 cases among students, faculty and staff, according to the Alabama Media Group's Al.com and the UA System's COVID-19 dashboard . It's not clear how many students were tested between Aug. 19 and Aug. 23 and the totals did not include entry testing, according to Al.com. Prior to reopening, the University of Alabama announced that re-entry testing had revealed a less than 1% positivity rate but according to the dashboard, the positivity test rate was 1.04% of nearly 30,000 tests taken. — On Monday, a Florida judge blocked the state's requirement that public schools must offer in-person classes by August 31, according to CNN . Judge Charles Dodson said that Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran "arbitrarily prioritized reopening schools statewide in August over safety, and over the advice of health experts and that all districts complied in order to avoid loss of state funding," according to CNN. The Florida Education Association had sued Gov. Ron DeSantis and Corcoron with the purpose of allowing districts to make the safest decisions to reopening schools in-person without losing state funding, according to CNN. "This is a great day for public schools," FEA President Fedrick Ingram said at a news conference yesterday. "Sometimes, the good guys win, and today is that day."

A man in Hong Kong is the first with a confirmed reinfection with the novel coronavirus, researchers say — A man in Hong Kong is the first with a confirmed reinfection with the novel coronavirus, according to a Live Science report . A group of researchers reported on a case of a patient who was infected with two genetically different strains of the coronavirus, months apart, according to a press release from the University of Hong Kong's Department of Medicine. The scientists found that the coronavirus that infected the patient, a 33-year-old-man in Hong Kong, the second time around had 24 different nucleotides, or building blocks, in its gene sequence than the virus that infected him the first time. That likely means that the person didn't just continue to shed the same virus months after being infected, according to the study that was just accepted, but not yet published, in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. But this case shouldn't spark widespread fear. “What I think is really important is that we put this into context,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization's technical lead for coronavirus response and head of the emerging diseases and zoonoses unit, said during a news briefing in Geneva on Monday (Aug. 24), according to CNN. There's been more than 24 million cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide, and so "we need to look at something like this on a population level." — China has been giving doses of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, that has not yet completed all of the clinical trials needed to show whether it works, to "high risk" groups since late July, according to a Live Science report . The vaccine, developed by Beijing-based company Sinopharm, was approved for emergency use on July 22, Chinese health officials announced over the weekend. Medical workers, customs and border officials and others at high risk of COVID-19 exposure are eligible to receive the vaccine, according to the report. The Sinopharm vaccine is an inactivated form of SARS-CoV-2. The company published early results from its phase 1/phase 2 trials in the journal JAMA on Aug. 13, according to a Live Science roundup of candidate coronavirus vaccines. Participants did not show any "serious" adverse effects and developed neutralizing antibodies to the virus. However, the company has not yet completed a phase 3 clinical trial which is critical in understanding the effectiveness of a vaccine. They have already begun a phase 3 trial, which will involve up to 15,000 people in Abu Dhabi, according to the Live Science report.

FDA issued emergency use authorization for convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 On Sunday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19, according to CNN . Convalescent plasma uses blood plasma donations — that contain antibodies that recognize the virus — from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Last week, federal officials had announced that they needed more data that COVID-19 plasma therapy works before authorizing an EUA. No clinical trials have definitely shown that CP therapy helps COVID-19 patients recover, according to a previous Live Science report . But more than 70,000 patients have been treated with convalescent plasma, the FDA said, according to CNN. Because of this lack of evidence, top disease experts in the U.S. had urged the FDA to not issue an EUA for CP therapy, according to the report. On Sunday, a source that's close to the White House Coronavirus Task Force told CNN that the FDA had reviewed additional data to determine whether or not to issue an EUA.

Extreme weather threatens states already battered by the coronavirus — Extreme weather events are threatening states that are already battling high numbers of coronavirus cases, according to The Washington Post . Two tropical storms, Marco and Laura, are barreling toward the Gulf Coast and are expected to hit Louisiana and eastern Texas on Monday and Wednesday, respectively, according to the Post. “It should not be lost on any Louisianan that in addition to twin tropical weather threats, we still have to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Saturday, according to the Post. “COVID-19 does not become less of a threat because of tropical weather.” On the other side of the country, California’s Bay Area is facing large wildfires and many residents have already had to evacuate. Some residents have gone to shelters and virus testing centers have had to close, according to the Post. “People who currently have or who are recovering from COVID-19 may be at increased risk of health effects from exposure to wildfire smoke due to compromised heart and/or lung function related to COVID-19,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . The CDC website has a list of tips for keeping safe from COVID-19 during natural disasters and extreme weather . For example, in the case of an evacuation due to a hurricane, the CDC recommends preparing a "go kit" with items that are necessary during an emergency. "Include items that can help protect you and others from COVID-19, such as hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, bar or liquid soap, disinfectant wipes (if available) and two masks for each person,” according to the CDC. When in a shelter, practice social distancing and follow CDC guidelines to prevent infection such as washing your hands, covering coughs and sneezes, wear masks and avoid sharing food and drinks, according to the CDC. — More than 23.2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 806,100 deaths have been reported worldwide, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . In the U.S., more than 5.6 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 176,500 deaths have been reported; In Brazil, more than 3.5 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 114,200 deaths have been reported; In India, more than 3 million cases and more than 56,700 deaths have been reported, according to the dashboard.

France, Germany and Italy all recorded their highest daily coronavirus cases since the spring — France, Germany and Italy recently all recorded their highest daily coronavirus case counts since the spring, and Spain is in the midst of an outbreak, according to The New York Times . Officials are warning that after having kept the virus at bay for months, Europe may now be entering a new phase of the pandemic. The numbers reported in Europe are still only about one-fifth those seen in the U.S. over the last week, according to the Times. But as summer comes to a close and people move inside and flu season begins, experts are worried that the virus is going to surge. The current increase in Europe and many other parts of the world are driven by young people, according to the Times. — The U.S. reported nearly 48,700 new coronavirus cases on Friday, the seventh consecutive day where cases have been below 50,000, according to CNBC . “I think we’re seeing progress over the last four weeks, I hope that progress will continue, but I think none of us should turn away from the recognition that it’s key each of us recognize we want to make sure Covid stops with us,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield told reporters on a conference call Friday, according to CNBC. More than 10 states are reporting an increase in cases over a seven-day moving average, according to CNBC. U.S. cases have fallen by nearly 17% compared to a week ago, but some public health experts have questioned whether some of this decline is due to reduced testing, according to CNBC. The U.S. has now reported more than 5.6 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 175,600 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard.

Daycares aren't major spreaders of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, report finds Since Rhode Island opened its daycares two months ago, there has been very little spread of COVID-19 within these settings, according to a new report published Friday (Aug. 21) in the journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report . This success in Rhode Island is likely due, in part, to childcare programs' adherence to numerous safety measures that were required for them to reopen, officials said. As of July 31, more than 650 daycares had reopened in the state, with a capacity for nearly 19,000 children, the report said. To reopen, daycares were required to reduce enrollment to no more than 20 people (including children and staff) and prevent mixing of staff and children between groups. In addition, daycares were required to have a universal mask policy for adults, screen staff and children daily for COVID-19 symptoms and enhance cleaning and disinfecting measures within their facilities. The report found that from June 1 to July 31, there were 52 confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 linked with daycare in the state. Of these, 30 cases were among children and 22 were among adults. Cases occurred within 29 childcare programs, and of these, the vast majority had only a single case, with no "secondary transmission" (meaning the virus didn't spread to another person within the daycare). Just four of the state's 666 open daycare experienced possible secondary transmission of COVID-19, the report said. The report provides data showing that "when things are done with vigilance and partnership with the public health community, that you can in fact … reopen child care and not have significant secondary transmission," CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield, said in a news briefing on Friday. "This is a great example of opening in a successful way in a community that had low transmission," added Erin Sauber-Schatz, lead on the CDC Community Interventions and Critical Populations Task Force for the COVID-19 response. Still, reopening could be more challenging in communities with more widespread transmission, she said. The finding could have implications for the reopening of schools. "Many of the steps taken by childcare centers are the same steps that schools will be using to keep children, teachers and staff safe," Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island Health Department, told the Providence Journal . "That means screening people for symptoms, doing regular environmental cleaning, and keeping people in stable groups, among other measures."

Fishing boat coronavirus outbreak provides first direct evidence that antibodies protect against re-infection — A COVID-19 outbreak on a fishing boat has provided scientists with the first direct evidence that antibodies protect people from re-infection, according to a Live Science report . More than 100 of the 122 crew members on the boat were infected, but three sailors who had antibodies to the new coronavirus in their blood prior to the voyage — indicating that they had previously been infected — did not catch the virus a second time, according to the report. Although scientists had suspected that having antibodies, particularly so-called "neutralizing antibodies," against COVID-19 would confer protection, they didn't have studies conducted in humans to back that up. The authors say the findings could be good news for COVID-19 vaccine candidates , which are generally trying to get the immune system to produce neutralizing antibodies against the virus, according to the report. The study was posted to the preprint database medRxiv on Aug. 14 but it has not yet been peer-reviewed. — The numbers: there have now been more than 22.7 million cases of COVID-19 reported worldwide and more than 794,200 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . In the U.S., there have now been more than 5.5 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 174,290 deaths; In Brazil, there have now been more than 3.5 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 112,300 deaths; In India, there have now been more than 2.9 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 54,800 deaths.

The FDA won't authorize the use of blood plasma to treat COVID-19 patients until more data can be reviewed — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) won't authorize the use of blood plasma to treat COVID-19 patients until more data about the treatment can be reviewed, federal officials announced, according to a Live Science report . Convalescent plasma therapy uses blood plasma donations (that contain antibodies that recognize the coronavirus) from people who recovered from COVID-19. No clinical trials have definitively shown that CP therapy helps coronavirus patients recover, according to the report. Because there isn't much evidence available, top disease experts in the U.S. urged the FDA not to issue a so-called emergency use authorization for the therapy, The New York Times reported . People who are currently receiving CP are doing so only through clinical trials. But because it is challenging to set up trials for CP, data showing whether it helps patients has been slow to come out, according to the report.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to become more deadly than the 1918 flu pandemic — The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to become more deadly than the 1918 flu pandemic, a new study suggests. To compare the current pandemic with last century's, a group of researchers focused on a sliver of the world that was hard hit by both viruses, according to a Live Science report . In the spring, SARS-CoV-2 hammered New York City, causing more than 19,000 known deaths — and more than 4,600 probable deaths. They found that during the peak of the 1918 influenza outbreak in New York City, a total of 31,589 all-cause deaths (this included death from any cause) occurred among the 5.5 million residents that lived there at the time. The all-cause mortality in the peak of the influenza pandemic in 1918 was 2.8 times higher than during the same months in previous years. In contrast, for the early 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, they found that 33,465 deaths from all causes occurred among 8.28 million residents between March 11 and May 11. The all-cause mortality in those months of 2020 were 4.15 times higher than those months between 2017 and 2019. That means that in the peak of the 1918 influenza pandemic in NYC about 287 per 100,000 people died a month from any cause in NYC, whereas during the early COVID-19 outbreak, about 202 per 100,000 people died a month in the city. So the all-cause mortality during the spring of 2020 was 70% of the all cause mortality during the fall of 1918, according to the report. — Sweden recorded the highest death tally (from all causes) it's had in 150 years in the first half of 2020, according to CNN . The country registered 51,405 deaths between January and June of this year, which is 6,500 more deaths than the same period last year. That's the highest number of deaths the country has had between January and June since 1869, when there was a famine and 55,431 people died. When the coronavirus hit, Sweden didn't go into a lockdown and emphasized that people should be individually responsible, according to CNN. Still, only 7.3% of people in Stockholm developed antibodies to the virus, according to CNN. By early June, more than 4,500 people had died from the coronavirus in the country. Now, there's more than 5,800 people who have died from the virus. — Russia says its coronavirus vaccine "Sputnik V," will soon be tested on 40,000 people in a phase 3 trial, according to CNBC . Production of the vaccine, which received domestic regulatory approval for a select group of people earlier this month, is expected to start in September, according to CNBC. Health experts are expressing concerns over how fast the vaccine was approved and how little data is available, according to CNBC.

Native Americans are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, Massachusetts will require flu shots for most students — Native Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . The study, which analyzed information on COVID-19 cases in 23 states from late January through early July, found that the rate of COVID-19 cases was 3.5 times higher in Native American and Alaska Native populations compared with the rate of cases in the white population. Although Native Americans make up 0.7% of the U.S. population, they account for 1.3% of COVID-19 cases reported to the CDC, the report said. The authors note that the study likely underestimated the actual rate of COVID-19 in the Native American population because the analysis was limited to states that had detailed information on patients' race/ethnicity, and these states represent only about one-third of the Native American population in the U.S. In a statement the CDC said it has provided more than $200 million in COVID-19 funding to support tribes and tribal organizations in carrying out COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. — Health officials in Massachusetts announced that all children attending child care, preschool, kindergarten, K-12, and colleges or universities will be required to get a flu shot by the end of the year, according to a statement from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The state is the first to require flu vaccines for children over age five, according to CNN . (Some states have flu shot requirements for children in daycare and preschool, according to CBS Boston .) The aim of the requirement is to reduce flu-related and respiratory illness amid the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said. "It is more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources," Dr. Larry Madoff, medical director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, said in the statement. Students will be required to get their flu shot by Dec. 31, 2020 unless the student has a medical or religious exemption. Homeschooled children in grades K-12 are also exempt, as are college students who are off campus and using entirely remote learning, the statement said.

Some colleges in the U.S. have already moved to remote learning over coronavirus worries, spikes in cases — Iran, one of the worst-hit countries in the Middle East, has now recorded more than 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus, according to Reuters . In the past 24 hours, the country reported 153 of those deaths. There have now been more than 350,200 cases of COVID-19 in the country, according to Reuters. — Some colleges in the U.S. have already stopped in-person classes due to surges in COVID-19 cases, according to CNN . The University of Notre Dame announced that all undergraduate classes will be remote for the next two weeks due to a spike in coronavirus cases, according to CNN. Michigan State University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill announced that their undergraduate classes will now be remote. Ithaca College also announced it was moving from in-person classes to remote classes for the entire semester, according to CNN. Young people, who are now returning to campuses or will soon be returning to campuses across the country, are thought to have helped drive coronavirus cases this summer, according to CNN. As the students return, so do reports of infections. At Appalachian State University, a cluster of cases was reported associated with the football team and at Iowa State University, 175 students tested positive at move in, according to CNN. — There have now been more than 22.1 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and more than 781,900 deaths. The U.S. has surpassed 5.4 million cases and has recorded 171,877 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard .

More than 21.9 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 776,000 deaths have been reported worldwide — A new mathematical model offers guidance on how to minimize COVID-19 spread during potential large-scale evacuations that could take place due to hurricanes, according to a Live Science report . People evacuating from hard-hit counties should be directed to counties with relatively lower rates of viral spread — and those places should enforce social distancing and mask wearing, according to the report. If the counties prepare adequately, additional spread can be minimized, according to the research which has not yet been peer-reviewed. In the worst-case scenario that the researchers modeled, more than two million evacuees from counties where there's high transmission rates retreated to areas with similarly high rates, and their travel and interactions with others resulted in about 66,000 extra COVID-19 cases, according to the report. In the best-case scenario model, evacuees were systematically divided among low-transmission counties, resulting in only about 9,000 new cases. — The numbers: More than 21.9 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide and more than 776,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard. In the U.S., more than 5.4 million cases have been reported and more than 171,300 deaths; In Brazil, more than 3.3 million cases have been reported and more than 108,500 deaths; In India, more than 2.7 million cases have been reported and more than 51,700 deaths; In Russia, more than 930,200 cases have been reported and more than 15,800 deaths.

The FDA gives emergency use authorization to a new, quick saliva test for COVID-19 — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given emergency use authorization to a new saliva test for COVID-19 that can be completed in just a few hours, according to a new Live Science report . Compared to the traditional nasal swab tests, this new test called SalivaDirect is cheap (about $10 per sample), less invasive (only requires a person to spit into a container) and can be performed without the need for certain testing components that have been in short supply during the pandemic, according to the report. SalivaDirect was developed by researchers at Yale School of Public Health and recently given to NBA players and staff to help confirm its effectiveness, according to the report. It doesn’t require any extra equipment and instructions for the test will be made immediately available to laboratories around the country, the FDA said in a statement . So far, studies of SalivaDirect have found that the test's accuracy is on par with that of nasal swab tests, the researchers said. It is the fifth saliva test for COVID-19 to receive emergency use authorization. Earlier saliva tests, such as one developed by Rutgers University researchers, require a special collection container to perform, Live Science previously reported .

Undergraduate classes at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill will now be remote following clusters of coronavirus cases — The biotechnology company Novavax will begin its phase 2 clinical trials of its candidate COVID-19 vaccine soon, according to a Live Science report . The phase 2b clinical trial will include 2,665 healthy adults in South Africa and 240 adults with HIV who are medically stable but whose immune responses may be different from people without HIV, according to a statement from the company. Preliminary data that hasn't yet been peer-reviewed from the phase 1 trial of the candidate vaccine was published in a preprint server medRxiv on Aug. 6. Healthy volunteers given two doses of the vaccine showed only mild side effects, such as headache, fatigue and tenderness or pain at the injection site., according to the report. After receiving a second dose, all of the participants generated neutralizing antibodies, which can prevent the virus from entering cells. Novavax will continue to evaluate this immune response in the phase 2b trial in South Africa, as well as a phase 2 trial to be organized in the U.S. and Australia "in the near future," according to the statement. There are now 167 candidate vaccines in development to prevent coronavirus infections, according to a Live Science report on the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates . — The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill announced that all of its undergraduate classes will now be remote starting on Wednesday after 130 more students tested positive for the coronavirus last week, according to the Raleigh News & Observer . UNC has reported four COVID-19 clusters in three days in dorms, apartments and a fraternity house, according to the report. They tested a total of 954 students last week and 13.6% of them tested positive, which is nearly twice the percent testing positive in the previous three weeks, according to the report. Since February, there have been 324 confirmed cases (45 of those staff members) at UNC, but there's likely more that haven't been counted, according to the report. Graduate, professional and health affairs students will continue to take in-person classes, according to the Raleigh News & Observer.

Global COVID-19 cases exceed 21.7 million, New Zealand delays election amid a new cluster of coronavirus cases — There have now been more than 21.7 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and more than 775,900 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . In the U.S., there have been more than 5.4 million cases and more than 170,000 deaths; In Brazil, there have been more than 3.3 million cases and more than 107,800 deaths; In India there have been more than 2.6 million cases and more than 50,900 deaths; In Russia, there have been more than 925,500 cases and more than 15,400 deaths, according to the dashboard. — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country’s parliamentary election will be delayed by four weeks due to a rise in COVID-19 cases, according to CNN . The election was set to take place on September 19 but will now take place on October 17. New Zealand was recently praised for having gone 100 days without community spread, according to a Live Science report . But at 102 days, the country announced its first cases of local transmission among people who had not recently traveled our had contact with a known case, according to the report. As of Monday, the country confirmed 58 coronavirus cases related to the local community cluster in Auckland and another 20 cases among people who had traveled, according to CNN. On August 12, the city of Auckland was put under a strict level three lockdown. “Under Alert Level 3 you should continue to stay in your household bubbles whenever you are not at work or school,” according to the New Zealand government. The rest of New Zealand moved to Alert Level 2. “At Alert Level 2 the disease is contained, but there is a risk of community transmission,” according to the government webpage.

Brazil's First Lady tests negative, Stricter measures in Italy, Jordan seals off border —Michelle Bolsonaro, wife of Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro, said today (Aug. 16) that she had tested negative for the coronavirus, about two weeks after contracting the virus that causes COVID-19, Reuters reported . Her grandmother died from COVID-19 last week, while the president came down with the disease in July and his fourth son, Jair Renan, has now tested positive for the disease. "Thank you for your prayers and for all your acts of love," Michelle Bolsonaro wrote on social media, according to Reuters. Brazil, which has the world's second-highest caseload, has to date reported more than 3.34 million COVID-19 cases and 107,852 related deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard. —As coronavirus cases showed an uptick across Italy, the country decided to shut down discos and clubs while making masks mandatory in some outdoor settings — near bars and pubs, for instance — between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., The Guardian reported . The past week saw new infections double what they were three weeks ago, with younger people making up the bulk of them. These new rules will go into effect Monday and stay in effect through early September. To date, Italy has logged at least 253,915 COVID-19 cases and 35,396 related deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard. The focus, according to news reports, is for schools to be able to open relatively safely in September across Italy. "We cannot nullify the sacrifices made in past months. Our priority must be that of opening schools in September in full safety," Roberto Speranza, Italian health minister, said on Facebook, as reported by The Guardian. —Also starting Monday (Aug. 17), Jordan will seal off Ramtha city near the Syrian border, after Jordan saw the largest daily rise in cases in fourth months, The Guardian reported . Half of the 39 cases recorded over the past 24 hours came from Ramtha city, according to the health ministry. Truck drivers and other individuals who are entering the kingdom at the Jaber border crossing (between Syria and Jordan) are the ones spreading the virus, officials say, as reported by The Guardian. Jordan has reported a total of 1,378 COVID-19 cases and 11 related deaths, which is the lowest infection rate in the region. Today, the prime minister Omar al Razzaz said that stricter measures would be implemented at the border over the next few days. "We don't want, God forbid, to have a second wave," Razzaz said, as reported by The Guardian.

Officials work with 4 states to deliver the first COVID-19 vaccine Health officials are working with officials in four states and one city to figure out a plan to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as limited doses are available — something that could happen as early as the fall, The Washington Post reported . Officials in California, Florida, Minnesota, North Dakota and Philadelphia are being asked to develop plans for how to transport and store the vaccine, the Post said. Furthermore, those officials will be tasked with prioritizing which individuals will receive the first doses of the vaccine. Storage is a "hot topic," the Post said, because keeping vaccines viable requires freezers; at least one of the vaccines under testing could require temperatures dropping to minus 94 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 70 degrees Celsius). For such vaccines, states should prepare mass vaccination clinics equipped with freezers, since doctors' offices likely won’t be able to store and administer the vaccines, the Post reported. Officials are now saying that Operation Warp Speed — the administration’s initiative to speed up development of coronavirus vaccines and other countermeasures — could deliver tens of millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine by January, the Post said. Live Science is following all of the most promising COVID-19 vaccine candidates .

US sees decline in coronavirus testing for first time during the pandemic Testing is one of the key criteria for containing the spread of the coronavirus causing COVID-19, officials have long said. With testing, contact tracing and appropriate quarantining, countries have slowed the spread of the virus. But over the last two weeks testing in the U.S. has been going down instead of up, The New York Times reported . About 733,000 people in the U.S. have been tested every day on average this month; that's down from the 750,000 daily average in July, according to the COVID Tracking Project, as reported by the Times. On Monday (Aug. 10), the seven-day average was 709,000 a day, which is the lowest in almost a month. The downturn could be partly the result of fewer people seeking tests. But it could also be explained by "people's frustration at the prospect of long lines and delays in getting results," the Times said. In addition, the U.S. has not set up the infrastructure needed to test large swaths of the population rather than just those seeking tests. The delays in getting test results could hamper other measures put into place to slow the virus spread, experts have said. A modeling study published June 16 in the journal The Lancet Public Health found that even the best contact-tracing strategy won't work if there are delays of three or more days in getting test results, Live Science previously reported . "In our model, minimizing testing delays had the largest impact on reducing transmission of the virus; and testing infrastructure is therefore the most critical factor for the success of a contact-tracing system," Dr. Marc Bonten, senior author of the study and a professor of epidemiology at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, said in a statement at the time. "This means that as many infectious people as possible need to be tested, and policymakers might consider lowering the eligibility threshold for access to testing."

California becomes first state to surpass 600,000 coronavirus cases California became the first state to surpass 600,000 coronavirus cases, according to ABC7 . California has now reported more than 10,800 deaths related to the coronavirus, making it the third state with the worst death toll, according to The New York Times . But being the most populous state, California ranks 20th in number of cases per-capita and 28th in coronavirus deaths per-capita, according to the Times. Gov. Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that California was "turning the corner on this pandemic," with a 19% decline in the number of people hospitalized over the last two weeks, according to the Times.

There have now been more than 20.9 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and more than 760,200 deaths — There have now been more than 20.9 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide and more than 760,200 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . In the U.S., there have now been more than 5.2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 167,200 deaths; in Brazil, there have now been more than 3.2 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 105,400 deaths; In India, there have now been more than 2.4 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 48,000 deaths; In Russia, there have now been more than 910,700 cases of COVID-19 and more than 15,400 deaths, according to the dashboard. — Vietnam has registered to buy Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to Reuters . Vietnam has asked for 50 to 150 million doses of the vaccine, which has recently been approved in Russia to only a small group of people and is expected to be further tested in a phase 3 clinical trial scheduled to start this week, according to Reuters and a previous Live Science report . In the meantime, Vietnam will continue to develop its own COVID-19 vaccine, state broadcaster Vietnam Television said, according to Reuters. Last month, the country’s Ministry of Health announced Vietnam would have its own vaccine by the end of 2021. It’s not clear when the ministry expects to receive this vaccine from Russia, according to Reuters.

CDC warns against using masks with exhalation valves, Russia's coronavirus vaccine is only approved for a small number of people — Masks with exhalation valves won't prevent the spread of infectious diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently said, according to a Live Science report . When a mask has a valve, respiratory droplets from the wearer are expelled into the air and could reach other people, according to the report. "This type of mask does not prevent the person wearing the mask from transmitting COVID-19 to others," the CDC says on its website . Many airlines have already banned customers from wearing masks with valves on flights, the Post reported. American Airlines is the latest airline to announce a ban, which takes effect on Aug. 19, according to a statement from the airline issued Wednesday (Aug. 12). — Face masks play a critical role in helping to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, and could save tens of thousands of lives in the U.S. if everyone wore them in public, experts have said. Yes, some face masks are more protective than others. But that doesn’t mean wearing neck gaiters — stretchy pieces of fabric that people, especially runners, pull up to cover their nose and mouth — is worse than wearing no masks at all, as some recent news articles have suggested, according to a Live Science report . These news articles were based on a study published Aug. 7 in the journal Science Advances , in which researchers tested a novel method for evaluating the effectiveness of face masks. In other words, it was a study conducted to test a methodology. However, the researchers did explore some mask effectiveness in a "proof-of-principle" test, to evaluate whether they could use this particular method to measure mask effectiveness. By testing a single neck gaiter on one participant, they found that it was ineffective, and even counterproductive, in stopping the spread of droplets. But the public should "absolutely not" use this as evidence that neck gaiters are worse than wearing no mask at all, co-author Martin Fischer, a chemist and physicist at Duke University in North Carolina, said at a news briefing today (Aug. 13). "We tested one mask because we just had that mask lying around … there are plenty of other gaiters out there," some that could be more protective, he said. Even the way people wear them can change how protective they are, he added. More studies are needed, the researchers said. — This week, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced that the country had approved a coronavirus vaccine, called "Sputnik V," seemingly for widespread use, according to a Live Science report . But it turns out the vaccine was only approved for use in "a small number of citizens from vulnerable groups," according to Science Magazine . The registration certificate issued by Russia's Ministry of Health actually covers only a small group including health care workers, according to Science Magazine. The certificate also states that the vaccine cannot be approved for widespread use until Jan. 1, 2021, although statements by various Russian health officials seem to contradict that clause, according to the Live Science report. A phase 3 clinical trial of the vaccine is scheduled to begin this week, according to the report.

US records deadliest day of the summer, new unemployment claims dip below 1 million — The U.S. reported 1,500 new deaths on Wednesday, the highest number of daily deaths in the country since the middle of May, according to The Washington Post . For the past 17 consecutive days, the seven-day average of newly reported deaths has remained above 1,000, according to the Post. There are now more than 5.1 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 166,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard . Worldwide, there are a total of more than 20.6 million cases of COVID-19 and more than 750,000 deaths, according to the dashboard. — The number of new people filing for state unemployment benefits has dropped below one million last week for the first time since March, according to The New York Times . The Labor Department reported today that 963,000 people filed for unemployment benefits last week and another 489,000 applied under a different federal program that covers independent contractors, self-employed people and people who don't qualify for the typical state unemployment insurance, according to the Times. These numbers are much lower than In late March, when nearly 6.9 million people applied for benefits in a single week, according to the Times. But, it's all relative. Prior to the pandemic, the worst recorded week was in 1982 when 695,000 people applied for benefits.

Cat coronavirus drugs could potentially help treat humans, vaping may increase the risk of getting COVID-19, at least in teens and young adults — Two experimental drugs to treat a type of coronavirus that only infects cats could potentially help treat humans with COVID-19, Science News reported . This coronavirus that only infects cats can cause "feline enteric coronavirus," an infection that affects the gastrointestinal tract but doesn't typically cause symptoms, according to a Live Science report . But in about one in 10 infected cats, the virus can mutate after infecting the cat and gain entry to specific immune cells, spread through the body and cause severe inflammation that is typically fatal if left untreated. At that stage, the infection is called "feline infectious peritonitis virus," (FIPV), according to the report. Two experimental drugs have been designed to treat cats with FIPV, although neither has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cats. The two drugs work by preventing the feline coronavirus from replicating in cat cells; it may also disrupt how SARS-CoV-2 replicates in human cells, according to the report. — Vaping may increase the risk of getting COVID-19, at least in teens and young adults, a new study suggests. The researchers analyzed information from more than 4,300 U.S. teens and young adults, ages 13 to 24, who completed an online survey in early May, according to the study, published Aug. 11 in the Journal of Adolescent Health . Among those tested for COVID-19, e-cigarette users were five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, and those who used both e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes were seven times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19, compared with those who did not use e-cigarettes or traditional cigarettes, according to a Live Science report . In addition, dual users were nearly five times more likely to report experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of the survey, regardless of whether they were tested, compared with non-users, according to the report. The researchers don't know what causes the link, but they have a number of hypotheses. Both smoking and vaping are known to damage the lungs and affect the immune system, which may increase the risk of developing a COVID-19 infection after exposure to the virus, according to the report. What's more, sharing vaping products or behaviors such as face and mouse touching that come with using an e-cigarette, could also increase the risk of infection, according to the report.

Coronavirus cases are surging in Germany and Spain, Paris Marathon cancelled — Coronavirus cases are surging in Germany and Spain, according to the BBC . Germany recorded 1,200 new cases in the past 24 hours, the biggest daily increase in more than three months. The increase in cases is likely due, in part, to people returning from holidays, said Health Minister Jens Spahn, according to the BBC. Germany has reported a total of more than 219,700 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic and 9,213 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . Meanwhile, Spain is currently facing the highest infection rate in Western Europe, with 1,418 new infections recorded on Tuesday and 675 active outbreaks in the country, according to the BBC. "We are right at a point where things can get better or worse. This means we have to pull out all the stops to curb outbreaks before they become more serious," Salvador Macip, an expert in health sciences at Catalonia's Open University, told AFP news agency, according to the BBC. Spain has reported a total of 326,600 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic (the highest number in Western Europe) and 28,581 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard. — The Paris marathon was canceled amid an uptick in cases in France, according to Reuters . The marathon was originally scheduled for April 5 but had been postponed to Nov. 15. “Faced with the difficulty that many runners, especially those coming from abroad, had in making themselves available... it was decided that it would be better... for those concerned if we organised the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris in 2021," the organizers said in a statement, according to Reuters. France recorded nearly 5,000 new coronavirus cases from Saturday to Monday, according to France24 , a French news television network. Paris and several other cities now require face masks in crowded outdoor zones. Face masks are mandatory nationwide in shops and banks, according to France24.

Russia approves COVID-19 vaccine despite incomplete human testing — Russia has approved a vaccine for COVID-19 even though critical trials of the vaccine have not been completed, Live Science reported . The vaccine, called "Sputnik V," was approved Tuesday (Aug. 11), making Russia the first country in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine. But data from early human trials of the vaccine have not been published and large studies of the vaccine, known as phase 3 trials, haven't started yet. The country plans to begin phase these trials on Aug. 12. Only phase 3 trials, which often include tens of thousands of people, can determine if the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19 infection. The early approval of Russia's vaccine has raised concerns about its safety and effectiveness. "Fast-tracked approval will not make Russia the leader in the [vaccine] race, it will just expose consumers of the vaccine to unnecessary danger," Russia's Association of Clinical Trials Organizations said in a statement, The Associated Press reported . — The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a flurry of misinformation, hatching more than 2,000 rumors, conspiracy theories and reports of discrimination, according to a new study. Such false information can have serious consequences — the researchers of the new study found that COVID-19 related rumors were linked to thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths, Live Science reported . For the study, published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene , the researchers reviewed content on social media, including posts on Twitter and Facebook, as well as newspaper and TV reports, from December 2019 to April 2020. They identified more than 2,300 separate reports of rumors, conspiracy theories and stigma related to COVID-19 in 25 languages from 87 countries. About a quarter of the claims were related to COVID-19 illness, transmission or mortality, and an additional 19% were related to treatments and cures for the disease. For example, there were rumors that drinking bleach , eating garlic, keeping the throat moist, avoiding spicy foods, taking vitamin C and even drinking cow's urine could prevent or cure the disease. The authors recommend that governments and health agencies continue to publish accurate scientific information about COVID-19 on their websites. In addition, agencies should not only identify and debunk COVID-19 rumors, but also engage with social media companies to "spread correct information," they concluded.

New Zealand reports first local COVID-19 transmission in 102 days, Worldwide cases surpass 20 million — New Zealand announced its first cases of local COVID-19 transmission in 102 days. On Tuesday (Aug. 11), New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the country had confirmed four new cases of COVID-19 among people who had not traveled recently or had contact with a known case, according to CNN . The new cases were all in the same household. As a result, New Zealand will reinstate temporary COVID-19 restrictions in parts of the country, CNN reported. The strictest measures will be in Auckland, where the local cases were found. The restrictions mean that restaurants, bars and non-essential shops will close, as will schools; gatherings will be limited to 10 or fewer people and residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential activities like grocery shopping. The measures will be in place for three days, from Wednesday through Friday. — Worldwide cases of COVID-19 have surpassed 20 million, according to data from Johns Hopkins University . Global cases have doubled in about six weeks, with more than 200,000 cases being reported each day, on average, according to The New York Times . The United States has the highest number of reported cases, with nearly 5.1 million cases, followed by Brazil with 3 million cases, and India with 2.2 million cases.

NIH announces new clinical trials testing monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 prevention. — Two new clinical trials in the U.S. will test whether so-called monoclonal antibodies can prevent COVID-19, according to a statement from the National Institutes of Health . Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made versions of the antibodies produced by a person's immune system to fight infection (in this case COVID-19.) One study, sponsored by biotech company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, will test whether a monoclonal antibody called REGN-COV-2 can prevent COVID-19 asymptotic adults who have close contact with confirmed cases of COVID-19. The study aims to enroll 2,000 adults. The second study, sponsored by Eli Lilly will test whether a monoclonal antibody called LY-CoV555 can prevent infection in people at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 due to living or working in skilled nursing or assisted living facilities. That trial will enroll up to 2,400 participants. Both studies are "randomized, placebo-controlled" trials, meaning that participants are randomly assigned to receive either the monoclonal antibody or a placebo.

Antonio Banderas tests positive for COVID-19, Governor of Guam also announces infection — The actor Antonio Banderas has tested positive for COVID-19, according to CNN. Banderas announced on Monday (Aug. 10) that he was forced to celebrate his 60th birthday in quarantine owing to his positive test result. The actor added that he feels relatively well but a little more tired than usual. In a statement translated from Spanish, Banderas said he is "confident that I will recover as soon as possible following the medical indications that I hope will allow me to overcome the infectious process that I suffer and that is affecting so many people around the planet." — The governor of Guam, Lourdes "Lou" Leon Guerrero, has also tested positive for COVID-19, officials announced Monday, according to The Washington Post . Leon Guerrero said she was exposed to a close relative who was infected with COVID-19. Although she initially tested negative for the infection, she tested positive three days later after developing symptoms, the Post reported. "I implore everyone to use my experience as a reminder of just how serious and contagious this virus is," Leon Guerrero said.

Nearly 100,000 U.S. children tested positive for COVID-19 in last two weeks of July, Scientists engineer 'decoy' as possible antiviral treatment — More than 97,000 children across the U.S. have tested positive for COVID-19 in just the last two weeks of July, according to a new report from American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association. That translates to a 40% increase in child cases over the two-week period, the report said. The researchers collected information on reported COVID-19 cases in children in 49 states along with New York City, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. A total of nearly 339,000 cases in children have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic in the U.S. Six states — California, Florida, Arizona, Tennessee, Illinois and Georgia — have reported more than 15,000 total cases. Most new cases were reported in the South and West. Children made up around 9% of all cases in the U.S., and between 0.6% to 3.7% of all hospitalizations, and 0% and 0.8% of all COVID-19 deaths, the report said. — Scientists are attempting to engineer a molecular "decoy" to possibly treat or prevent COVID-19 infection. A new study finds that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, binds tightly to such a decoy, which is designed to resemble the receptor the virus uses to infect human cells, Live Science reported . However, the research is in its early stages, and no such decoy has ever been approved as a treatment for infectious diseases. "This would be something new, if it is successful," study author Erik Procko, an assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told Live Science — A total of about 19.9 million COVID-19 cases have been reported worldwide since the pandemic began, with cases expected to top 20 million this week, according to the World Health Organization . Cases are highest in the United States, with more than 5 million cases, followed by Brazil, with more than 3 million cases and India with more than 2.2 million cases.

Australia logs deadliest day, Brazil passes 100,000 deaths, New Zealand hits positive milestone —The state of Victoria in Australia reported 17 deaths Sunday (Aug. 9), making it Australia's deadliest day during the pandemic, MSN reported . Meanwhile, the state reported 394 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 14,659. Ten of the deaths there were linked to elderly care centers, Premier Daniel Andrews said during a media briefing, MSN reported. In total, Australia has recorded 21,084 COVID-19 cases and 295 related deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins virus dashboard. —The pandemic seems to be at full steam across the globe. Brazil has become the second country, after the U.S., to surpass 100,000 deaths related to COVID-19, AFP reported . India has more than 2 million cases — which doubled in just 3 weeks — and 42,518 virus-related deaths, the AFP reported. And in South Africa, more than 10,000 people have so far died from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. —On a much more optimistic note, New Zealand has now gone 100 days without any community transmission of COVID-19, TVNZ reported . "Achieving 100 days without community transmission is a significant milestone. However, as we all know, we can't afford to be complacent," said Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, New Zealand's Director-General of Health, as reported by TVNZ. "We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand." The total number of active cases has remained steady at 23, TVNZ reported.

US passes 5-million COVID