Friday, November 13, 2020
Thursday, November 12, 2020
November 12: 12,702 New COVID 19 Cases in Illinois
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Illinois reports 12,702 new cases of COVID-19, 43 deaths on Thursday
by: WTVO
Posted: Nov 12, 2020 / 12:10 PM CST / Updated: Nov 12, 2020 / 01:02 PM CST
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SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,702 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 43 additional deaths.
– Adams County: 1 male 80s
– Brown County: 1 male 90s
– Bureau County: 1 male 90s
– Clinton County: 1 male 50s, 3 females 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 male 90s
– Cook County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 50s, 1 female 70s, 2 males 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s
– DeKalb County: 1 male 50s
– DuPage County: 1 male 70s, 2 males 80s
– Edwards County: 1 male 70s
– Fulton County: 1 male 70s
– Knox County: 1 male 80s
– Lake County: 1 male 70s, 2 females 80s
– LaSalle County: 1 male 80s
– Macon County: 1 male 80s
– Montgomery County: 1 male 60s, 1 female 80s
– Morgan County: 1 male 50s
– Peoria County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 90s
– St. Clair County: 1 male 80s
– Tazewell County: 1 male 80s
– Vermilion County: 1 female 90s
– Wayne County: 1 male 80s
– Whiteside County: 1 male 40s, 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s
– Will County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 80s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 536,542 cases, including 10,477 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 100,617 specimens for a total 8,765,100. As of last night, 5,258 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 956 patients were in the ICU and 438 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 5– November 11 is 12.6%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 5, 2020 – November 11, 2020 is 13.9%.
To help decrease the positivity rate, IDPH recommends the following.
Yesterday, IDPH released additional recommendations for how best for Illinoisans to keep themselves and their families safe as cases continue to rise in the state. For the next three weeks, IDPH is asking people to stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work if working from home is not an option, buying groceries, and visiting the pharmacy. CDC and IDPH recommend limiting travel no matter the distance. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised.
Region 1’s 7-day rolling positivity average: 18.9% (18.3 yesterday)
Boone: 22.9% (21.9% yesterday)
Carroll: 20.5% (20.1% yesterday)
DeKalb: 14.3% (14.2% yesterday)
Jo Daviess: 14.3% (15.9% yesterday)
Lee: 15.7% (16.5% yesterday)
Ogle: 19.8% (19% yesterday)
Stephenson: 19.2% (19% yesterday)
Whiteside: 23% (21.4% yesterday)
Winnebago: 19.1% (18.4% yesterday)
Hospital bed availability down to 26% — threshold is 20% (this was 28% yesterday)
Stay Home
Boone County Health Department
Winnebago County hospitals have requested additional beds to manage surge in COVID-19 patients.
The next three weeks are critical in our fight against COVID-19. The Illinois Department of Public Health recommends to stay home unless you need any essential items and services.
Illinois Still Won't Release Outbreak Details
The earlier story is available at: http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2020/10/secret-state-covid-19-outbreak-locations.html
Two Weeks after NBC 5 Revealed Illinois' Secret List, the State Still Won't Release Outbreak Details
While Illinois officials repeatedly beg people to steer clear of large gatherings, they’ve privately been keeping track of just those kinds of cases, which have caused tens of thousands of coronavirus infections throughout the pandemic, all across the state.
By Phil Rogers and Katy Smyser • Published November 9, 2020 • Updated on November 9, 2020 at 7:41 pm
On Monday, after promising NBC 5 for weeks that it would release its data on thousands of coronavirus outbreaks, it posted some information on its website. But the "data" turns out to be just some pie charts and general numbers; no details at all about the thousands of outbreaks it has been tracking.
However, you can see the state's entire secret list, because NBC 5 and Telemundo Chicago posted it as part of our original investigation.
See the original report below:
NBC 5 Investigates and Telemundo Chicago Investiga have found thousands of little-known outbreaks of coronavirus in Illinois -- in restaurants, bars, retail stores, preschools, workplaces, gyms, clubs, churches and parties -- all kinds of parties -- across the state. Yet for months the state has concealed these outbreaks from the public, despite the fact that these are the very cases that could directly support officials’ continued pleas for people to avoid large groups of people.
The confidential list -- maintained by the Illinois Department of Public Health -- was obtained by the “Documenting Covid-19 project” at Columbia University’s Brown Institute for Media Innovation, working with the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. The group received the list, apparently by mistake, in response to a public records request to a county health department.
“The email we received says ‘confidential - do not share,’” said Sky Chadde, the Midwest Center’s Gannett Agricultural Data Fellow. "[It was] pretty much of an accident in terms of getting these records.”
Those records contain 2,553 confirmed outbreaks of coronavirus cases across the state — outbreaks which resulted in the infections of 43,780 people.
Where are Trump “election defense” funds really going?
NOVEMBER 11, 20204:03 PMUPDATED 8 HOURS AGO
Donations under $8K to Trump ‘election defense’ instead go to president, RNC
By Jarrett Renshaw, Joseph Tanfani
9 MIN READ
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(Reuters) - As President Donald Trump seeks to discredit last week’s election with baseless claims of voter fraud, his team has bombarded his supporters with requests for money to help pay for legal challenges to the results: “The Left will try to STEAL this election!” reads one text.
A supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump holds a sign during a “Stop the Steal” protest after the 2020 U.S. presidential election was called by the media for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, in front of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., November 7, 2020. REUTERS/Jim Urquhart
But any small-dollar donations from Trump’s grassroots donors won’t be going to legal expenses at all, according to a Reuters review of the legal language in the solicitations.
A donor would have to give more than $8,000 before any money goes to the “recount account” established to finance election challenges, including recounts and lawsuits over alleged improprieties, the fundraising disclosures show.
The emailed solicitations send supporters to an “Official Election Defense Fund” website that asks them to sign up for recurring donations to “protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day.”
The fine print makes clear most of the money will go to other priorities.
A large portion of the money goes to “Save America,” a Trump leadership PAC, or political action committee, set up on Monday, and the Republican National Committee (RNC). Under Federal Election Commission rules, both groups have broad leeway in how they can use the funds.
The Trump campaign, the RNC and Trump’s new Save America PAC did not respond to requests for comment.
Leadership PACs such as Save America are often set up by prominent political figures to spend money on other candidates, while also paying for personal expenses, such as travel and hotel stays.
The disclosures would allow Trump and the RNC to channel the donations into other political causes or campaigns, such as the two high-stakes January Senate runoff races in Georgia that could determine control of the Senate and are likely to rank among the most expensive races in U.S. history.
Trump’s solicitation website carries a banner headline that says “OFFICIAL ELECTION DEFENSE FUND” and “CONTRIBUTE NOW.”
Scrolling down the page would take a donor to the fine print, which shows that donations are split between “Save America,” which gets 60% of the money, and the RNC, which gets the other 40%. None of the money flows to Trump’s official “recount” committee fund until Trump’s Save America share reaches the legal contribution limit of $5,000, according to the disclosures.
That means that, before a dollar goes into the recount fund, Save America would receive $5,000 and the RNC around $3,300. Donations to the recount committee are legally limited to $2,800.
If a Trump donor gave $500, for instance, $300 would go to Trump’s Save America PAC, $200 would to the RNC - and nothing would go to his election defense fund.
One Republican political strategist said Trump is misleading supporters who might give small donations to whatever cause he approves.
“It’s important to be up front with people - especially those who are digging deep into their pockets to come up with $25,” said Michael DuHaime, a former political director at the RNC. “If you tell them it’s going for legal fees, well then it should go for legal fees.”
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Darrell Scott, an Ohio pastor who helped found the National Diversity Coalition for Trump and served on the president’s 2016 transition team, says he sees no problems with diverting the money to the leadership PAC or the RNC.
“I see this as two pockets on the same pair of pants. It doesn’t matter if it goes into the left or the right pocket,” Scott said. “In the end, the money will be used for a legitimate purpose that his supporters will get behind.”
FLURRY OF LAWSUITS
The fundraising pitches have channeled Trump’s rage and his refusal to accept the results of an election that major media outlets called on Saturday for his Democratic opponent Joe Biden, the former Vice President. Most of the Republican Party has fallen in line with Trump’s rhetoric, either by staying silent or publicly supporting the election challenges.
Trump’s campaign has filed a flurry of lawsuits to overturn the results in key states without producing evidence to back his charges of illegal voting. Trump’s lawsuits have instead generally alleged violations of process, such as a lack of access for Republican observers. Legal experts said none of the cases were broad enough to invalidate the number of votes required to overturn Biden’s presumed victory.
Judges have quickly dismissed many of the lawsuits. State election officials, including Republicans, have said there was no widespread fraud. Just a handful of Republican senators have recognized Biden’s win. Many more have not but some Republicans have suggested their patience with Trump’s legal fight may run out soon.
As the president fights what Democrats have called his inevitable ouster from the White House, his fundraising campaign seeks to replenish campaign coffers that were depleted during the presidential race, according to Federal Election Commission data.
Trump’s re-election team kicked off 2020 with an impressive cash advantage, thanks to a massive fundraising operation, including joint efforts with the Republican Party. But the advantage evaporated as Trump’s campaign burned through $1.4 billion of the $1.6 billion raised over the past two years.
By mid-October, the Trump campaign and the Republican Party reelection team were left with $223.5 million and had to scale back advertising. The Trump campaign itself only had $43 million entering the final three weeks of the presidential election, while Biden and the Democrats had $432 million in cash for the final stretch, including $177.3 million in Biden’s campaign.
‘LAVISH LIFESTYLES’
Trump’s post-election fundraising emails - sometimes issued hourly over the last several days - used names such as the Election Defense Task Force and the Official Election Defense Fund. Initially, the disclosures said that Trump would steer a large part of the contributions to pay down campaign debt.
But the disclosure language changed after Trump’s campaign treasurer, Bradley Crate, incorporated the Save America political action committee on Monday. Crate did not reply to requests for comment.
Unlike campaign funds, which have tight controls on how they can be spent, leadership PACs such as Save America carry few restrictions. Republicans and Democrats alike have drawn criticism for using them to pay family members and to fund luxury events in exotic locations. A 2018 report by the Campaign Legal Center and Issue One, two groups that advocate campaign finance reform, said some leadership PACs have been used as vehicles to “subsidize lavish lifestyles” of politicians “on their donors’ dimes.”
Larry Noble, former general counsel at the Federal Election Commission, said Trump could use the committee to finance a post-election political career. He said the pitch is misleading for donors who don’t read the fine print.
“He’s really making a big deal about the challenge to the election, and that may very well be why a lot of people may give without paying attention to, or understanding, what the political language is,” Noble said. “It’s pretty dangerous to our democracy to use attacking our elections as a fundraising tool.”
The North Carolina Republican Party has launched a similar strategy, using the election challenges as a way to raise money for other purposes. In several mass emails to potential donors this week, the party says - alongside images of Trump - that it is seeking money to help protect the integrity of the elections.
The legal disclosures, however, show the money is going to an account to pay for the party’s overhead costs and not directly to any challenges of this presidential election. Trump is expected to win North Carolina’s 15 electoral votes.
“They should be more transparent,” said one prominent North Carolina Republican, speaking on condition of anonymity. “If they are soliciting money to help with a legal challenge, and instead the money is going to pay the salary of the political director, that doesn’t seem right.”
Tim Wigginton, a spokesman for the North Carolina Republican Party, said in a statement that the party wants to “ensure every legal ballot is counted” but did not address questions about whether the fundraising appeals are misleading or why the donations are not being directed to legal defense.
Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Joe Tanfani; additional reporting by Tom Hals and Tim Reid; editing by Brian Thevenot
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
November 11: Johns Hopkins COVID 19 Report
COVID-19
Updates on the COVID-19 pandemic from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
Additional resources are available on our website.
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security also produces US Travel Industry and Retail Supply Chain Updates that provide a summary of major issues and events impacting the US travel industry and retail supply chain. You can access them here.
EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 51.25 million cases and 1.27 million deaths as of 12:00pm EST on November 11.
UNITED STATES
The US CDC reported 10.04 million total cases and 237,731 deaths. A cumulative incidence of 10 million cases corresponds to approximately 3% of the entire US population. From the first case reported in the US on January 22, it took 96 days to reach 1 million cases. From there:
1 million to 2 million- 44 days
2 million to 3 million- 27 days
3 million to 4 million- 15 days
4 million to 5 million- 17 days
5 million to 6 million- 22 days
6 million to 7 million- 25 days
7 million to 8 million- 21 days
8 million to 9 million- 14 days
9 million to 10 million- 10 days
The daily incidence in the US is nearly 110,000 new cases per day and still increasing exponentially. The US is also reporting 976 deaths per day, an increase of nearly 40 percent since October 18. We expect that the average daily mortality will once again exceed 1,000 deaths per day in the coming days. If the US continues on this trajectory, it could surpass 250,000 cumulative deaths in the next 2 weeks.
More than half of all US states have reported more than 100,000 cumulative cases, and more than one-third have reported more than 200,000 cases:
>900,000: California, Texas
>800,000: Florida
>500,000: New York
>400,000: Illinois
>300,000: Georgia
>200,000: Alabama, Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin
The Illinois Department of Health is currently reporting more than 500,000 cases, so we expect that to be reflected in the CDC data in the coming days. We also expect North Carolina to surpass 300,000 cases and Virginia to surpass 200,000 cases in the near future.
By essentially every metric, the US COVID-19 epidemic is accelerating at a concerning rate. The average daily incidence more than doubled in less than a month—from approximately 50,000 new cases per day on October 12 to 110,000 daily cases on November 9—with no sign of slowing. Analysis published on the COVID Exit Strategy website classifies all but 3 states—Hawai’i, Maine, and Vermont—as having “Uncontrolled Spread." Additionally, 19 states are reporting more than 500 daily cases per million population. Most of these states are in the central portion of the country, with the exception of Alaska and Rhode Island. Notably, only 2 states, Alabama and Georgia, are reporting flat or decreasing COVID-19 incidence over the past 2 weeks. In fact, 11 states are reporting increases of more than 100% over that time, including Maine at 215%. More than half of all US states have reported their single day record incidence over the past 2 weeks.
As we have covered previously, COVID-19 incidence does not tell the full story. In addition to incidence, testing, hospitalizations, and mortality provide important insight into the current state of the US epidemic. The national testing capacity has largely increased on a linear trajectory since early in the US epidemic, but recent exponential increases in COVID-19 incidence and hospitalizations illustrate that the current testing volume may not be sufficient to fully capture the scope of community transmission. In fact, the US test positivity has doubled, from 4.2% to 8.3%, since early-to-mid October, once again putting the US above the WHO's recommended 5% threshold. COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing nationwide, with the Midwest exhibiting the most substantial surge over the past several weeks. Looking at mortality, it is clear that COVID-19 deaths continue to follow trends in incidence, with a lag of approximately 3-4 weeks. The national surge in incidence began in mid-September, followed by a corresponding increase in mortality starting in mid-October. Since that time, daily COVID-19 mortality has increased by more than one-third.
To put the current US surge in the global context, the US is #29 globally in terms of per capita daily incidence. Additionally, the US (354 new cases per million population) has nearly caught up to the average across Europe (377), the current major global hotspot. Compared to the 8 European countries with populations greater than 20 million, the US is reporting per capita daily incidence greater than 4 of them, and the per capita daily incidence in the US is currently reporting 8 times the global average (71). The US is faring slightly better in terms per capita daily mortality, ranking #35 globally. At 3 daily deaths per million population, the US is currently reporting 60% of the European average (5 deaths per million), and the US ranks behind 6 of the 8 most populous countries in Europe. The US daily mortality is increasing, although not nearly to the same degree as some European countries.
The Johns Hopkins CSSE dashboard reported 10.31 million US cases and 240,265 deaths as of 1:30pm EST on November 11.
NURSING HOMES Despite efforts to keep COVID-19 out of nursing homes, incidence among residents and staff is increasing after a period of relative stability. From May through October, incidence among both residents and staff of these facilities nearly quadrupled, and mortality among residents doubled over that time. The federal government previously allocated US$5 billion to provide nursing homes with access to rapid testing capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE), but despite this investment, nursing home staff inevitably are exposed to community transmission, which can then introduce SARS-CoV-2 to high-risk residents in these facilities.
This pattern is especially true for nursing homes in areas where community spread is the highest. Nursing home incidence has been elevated in more severely affected areas, regardless of heightened protective measures. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, on behalf of The Associated Press, found that nursing home quality was not a meaningful predictor of success against COVID-19, after accounting for the level of community transmission. Furthermore, nursing homes have been struggling to manage increasing incidence, staffing shortages, and new health mandates. For example, the study found that for the week of October 25, 1 in 6 nursing homes had not tested staff in the previous week, despite a national mandate for such weekly testing. Additionally, nearly 25% of facilities reported some sort of staffing shortage, and 20% reported a shortage of PPE. Many experts argue that nursing home residents cannot be protected unless community transmission is effectively contained, regardless of the extra protective measures implemented.
US CDC MASK GUIDANCE Yesterday, the US CDC published updated analysis regarding the role of mask use in protecting the wearer. The official CDC guidance continues to emphasize the value of masks in terms of “source control”—ie, that masks limit the volume of droplets expelled into the environment—rather than as protection for the wearer; however, the updated analysis indicates that masks can provide protection for the wearer as well, including the ability to filter “fine droplets and particles less than 10 microns.” Recent studies found that the filtration effect varied between masks and mask types, with multi-layer masks constructed with more densely woven material performing better than single-layer masks made from lower thread count fabric. The guidance also references studies that evaluated various mask materials, including both synthetic (eg, polypropylene) and natural materials (eg, silk). The CDC does not appear to have issued a corresponding update to its guidance on mask use (ie, to highlight the benefit to the wearer), but we will monitor the CDC website for any forthcoming changes. Hopefully, this new information will encourage increased mask use among the public.
TESTING REFUSAL While mask reluctance and refusal has been a common phenomenon throughout the US COVID-19 epidemic, there are also increasing reports of reluctance toward testing. Testing volume and capacity vary widely across the country, with some states having greatly increased their capacity and others still largely limited to symptomatic individuals; however, even in areas with sufficient testing capacity, some individuals may resist getting tested. Factors driving this reluctance could include the desire to keep schools or businesses open (eg, by not contributing to reported incidence or triggering contact investigations at local businesses), personal concerns about isolation or quarantine, and political viewpoints. Personal autonomy is a major driver of testing hesitancy, much like for anti-vaccine sentiment or vaccine hesitancy, with some individuals viewing their ability to decide whether or not to be tested as their personal right. Notably, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission determined that employers can mandate diagnostic testing for employees who work on site, illustrating the competing interests between personal autonomy and public benefit, particularly under “exceptional circumstances” like a pandemic. The extent of testing reluctance remains unknown, but it is evident that more work is necessary in order to both educate the public on the importance of testing and better characterize the degree to which individuals and communities experience testing reluctance.
UTAH Utah joins 34 other states in establishing a statewide mask mandate, as part of recent efforts to strengthen social distancing measures. Governor Gary Herbert declared a new state of emergency and unveiled new statewide public health measures to combat the state’s ongoing COVID-19 surge. The state of emergency and public health order follow Utah’s most devastating week to date in terms of COVID-19 incidence and mortality. In addition to the mask mandate, the new measures expand testing operations, including mandatory weekly testing for college and university students, and place restrictions on restaurants and bars, including a prohibition on on-site alcohol sales after 10pm. Utah will also limit social gatherings to single households only and suspend many athletic or other extracurricular activities (with exceptions for high school, collegiate, and professional sports). The new measures are scheduled to remain in effect through November 23, and additional recommendations for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend are expected to be announced in the coming days. Governor Herbert warned that those who violate the new measures could be subjected to fines of up to US$10,000 per violation.
HOPI TRIBE Two articles published last week in the US CDC’s MMWR detailed the Hopi Tribe’s COVID-19 response efforts. The Hopi Tribe is a Native American tribe and sovereign nation with a population of approximately 7,500 spread across 12 rural villages in northeastern Arizona. The first article details the investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak in May and June. The Hopi Health Care Center (HHCC) led the overall response efforts, in coordination with the tribal leadership and the Hopi Emergency Response Team. Following the identification of 2 related COVID-19 patients (siblings), contact tracing efforts identified 58 primary and secondary contacts of the co-index patients. Among the contacts, 27 (47%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, and 22 of the 29 total infections (76%; including the co-index patients) were symptomatic. Health officials identified 2 gatherings of extended family members and workplace exposures as likely loci of transmission beyond household contacts. Additionally, both of the co-index patients were symptomatic for at least 1 week prior to their positive test, during which time they continued to socialize in the community. The investigation identified a “limited understanding of how and when to wear masks, adhere to physical distancing...and practice hand hygiene” among the community, highlighting the need for “enhanced community education,” particularly regarding mask use and the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Following the investigation, HHCC and tribal leadership “increased community messaging,” in both English and Hopi.
The second article describes efforts by the HHCC and the Hopi Tribe Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), in collaboration with the US CDC, to conduct community-wide screening, surveillance, and education in 2 Hopi villages. Early contact tracing efforts found inconsistent mask use and limited knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 testing, isolation, and quarantine procedures, and the Hopi DHHS and the CDC developed a community-focused program to enhance surveillance and health communication. A pilot test of the screening, surveillance, and education program was conducted in 2 villages, interviewing 141 individuals across 101 households in fewer than 10 hours. The effort achieved 95% participation and obtained information on more than 259 individuals. The health officials utilized a standardized form to screen for COVID-19 symptoms and exposures and provide education on everyday prevention measures and testing using “culturally adapted materials.” The surveillance teams reported that residents of the 2 villages were receptive to and appreciative of the screening and education efforts, and they attributed the success, in part, to the involvement of trusted community health representatives. As a result of the successful pilot, the Hopi Tribe expanded the screening to cover all villages between July and October, and tribal leadership are seeking additional resources to expand the program, including increased frequency and additional services such as distributing masks.
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY EUA The US FDA issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the use of bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody, as a COVID-19 treatment in some patients. The EUA pertains specifically to patients who meet several key criteria: (1) aged 12 years and older and weighing 40kg (88 pounds) or more; (2) test positive for SARS-CoV-2; (3) currently experiencing mild or moderate COVID-19 disease, but not currently hospitalized; AND (4) at high risk for severe COVID-19 disease. Notably, the EUA emphasizes that bamlanivimab should not be administered to individuals who are receiving supplemental oxygen therapy (ie, high-flow oxygen or mechanical ventilation), as this could increase the risk of “worse clinical outcomes.” This is the first EUA issued for a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. Bamlanivimab will continue to be evaluated as a COVID-19 treatment, but the data currently available indicate that the drug can “reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk” for severe COVID-19.
Last week, the US government announced that it finalized the purchase of 300,000 doses of bamlanivimab in anticipation of the FDA’s decision. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) purchased the doses directly from the manufacturer, Eli Lilly, as part of Operation Warp Speed. The current contract is valued at US$375 million, with the option of 650,000 more doses through the end of 2021 at an additional cost of US$812.5 million.
VACCINE DISTRIBUTION Even before the announcement by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals this week regarding interim efficacy analysis of its candidate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, hospitals, health systems, and public health departments have been working to purchase and set up “ultra-cold freezers” in anticipation that they may be needed to store SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine, developed in partnership with BioNTech, must be stored at -70°C (-94°F) in order to remain viable, which is below the temperatures typically capable in pharmaceutical freezers. Not all vaccines require this level of freezing, but if the Pfizer vaccine is the first available, maintaining the cold chain during the vaccine distribution and administration process could be a major barrier, particularly for rural areas.
According to a report by STAT News, the US CDC has advised against the purchase of these freezers, but many organizations are moving forward anyway. While hospitals, health systems, and public health departments in large urban areas may be able to afford the cost of these freezers, those in rural parts of the country may not have funding available to cover the purchase, putting them at a disadvantage. According to the National Rural Health Association, “nearly half of U.S. rural hospitals were operating at a loss in April of this year,” and the situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 epidemic. Pfizer is working with state and local health departments to coordinate national distribution plans. The plans include boxes that can provide temporary storage capacity using dry ice, but the system has major limitations, including that the boxes “can be opened only for a minute at a time no more than twice a day.” As the US and countries around the world look ahead to the availability of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, logistical challenges, including cold chain management, need to be addressed well in advance in order to mitigate their impact on mass vaccination operations.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL On Saturday, the University of Notre Dame football team (ranked #4 nationally) defeated Clemson University (ranked #1) in double-overtime, in what ESPN labeled an “epic win.” While that description is debatable—considering that Clemson’s starting quarterback, Heisman Trophy contender Trevor Lawrence, did not play following a positive SARS-CoV-2 test—Notre Dame’s students reacted predictably after the victory, charging the field en masse. Notre Dame is among the approximately 50% of schools that allow fans to attend football games, and while it does limit the number of spectators, approximately 11,000 students were present for the game against Clemson. Fortunately, images show that the vast majority of students were wearing masks; however, physical distancing was not maintained while the students were on the field. Some media commentary suggests that university leadership should have anticipated this kind of incident and questions whether it is appropriate for schools to permit spectators in the stadium, or even to continue the season, in light of the ongoing surge in transmission and mortality across the country.
Following the incident, Notre Dame’s President, Reverend John Jenkins, issued a statement admonishing the students for their actions, both after the game and at other gatherings in recent days. Rev. Jenkins’ letter is reminiscent of those issued by a number of universities to their respective student bodies earlier this year as schools resumed in-person classes and students gathered in dormitories, houses, bars, and other locations on and near campus. In addition to chastising students for acting like students, Rev. Jenkins announced “zero tolerance” policies for student gatherings—under threat of “severe sanctions”—as well as mandatory testing for students, including exit testing before students are permitted to leave at the end of the semester. Those who do not get tested will not be able to register for future classes or obtain an official transcript from the university.
With the letter, Rev. Jenkins’ letter also called attention to his own recent actions with respect to COVID-19, including attending a White House ceremony during which he did not wear a mask. The event—US President Donald Trump’s announcement of now-Justice Amy Coney Barrett as his nomination for the US Supreme Court—was subsequently identified as the locus of transmission for a number of COVID-19 cases among White House staff and other attendees, potentially including Rev. Jenkins himself. Notably, Notre Dame’s Faculty Senate met last week “to consider a vote of no confidence because of [Reverend] Jenkins' appearance at the Rose Garden without a mask,” but the group ultimately decided to forgo the vote and, instead, passed a motion which "expresses its disappointment...(and) also accepts his apology."
In the week leading up to the game against Clemson, Notre Dame’s average daily COVID-19 incidence climbed from 18.9 cases per day to 30.7, a 62% increase; however, increasing incidence on campus did not dissuade the university from allowing students to attend the game in person. This kind of incident should serve as a cautionary tale for other universities and sports teams, particularly as national incidence and mortality continues to increase and students prepare to return home for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the end of the term.
RUSSIAN VACCINES Following Pfizer’s announcement regarding the preliminary efficacy analysis for its candidate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, Russia made a similar announcement for its first vaccine*. On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Health announced that early observations from the public use of its vaccine indicated that it was more than 90% efficacious. According to multiple media reports, the initial announcement also indicated that Russia intends to publish interim results from its ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial for the vaccine in the near future.
In a subsequent announcement today, Russia reported that interim clinical trial data shows the vaccine efficacy to be 92%, based on data from approximately 16,000 participants who have received both doses. The preliminary results were based on data obtained after 20 cases of COVID-19 among study participants, compared to 94 cases in the Pfizer trial. Much like the announcement from Pfizer, there are no publicly available data to analyze, so many questions remain about the Russian vaccine, including the duration of immunity. Russia in continuing Phase 3 clinical trials on the vaccine, and it is already conducting a separate study on a second vaccine. Russia also anticipates that a third candidate vaccine will be available in the near future.
November 11: 12,657 New COVID 19 Cases ion Illinois
Public Health Officials Announce 12,657 New Cases of Coronavirus Disease
11th Nov, 2020
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) today reported 12,657 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 145 additional deaths.
- Adams County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
- Boone County: 1 male 50s, 1 male 60s, 1 female 70s
- Carroll County: 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
- Clinton County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Coles County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 90s
- Cook County: 1 male 20s, 1 male 30s, 2 males 40s, 3 females 50s, 5 males 50s, 6 males 60s, 8 females 70s, 6 males 70s, 4 females 80s, 7 males 80s, 5 females 90s, 2 males 90s
- Crawford County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
- DuPage County: 1 female 70s, 1 female 80s, 3 males 80s
- Edwards County: 1 female 90s
- Ford County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
- Franklin County: 1 male 80s
- Grundy County: 1 male 70s
- Hamilton County: 1 female 60s
- Henry County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 80s
- Jefferson County: 1 male 90s
- Kane County: 1 female 50s, 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 female 90s
- Kankakee County: 1 male 80s,
- Knox County: 1 male 60s, 2 females 90s
- Lake County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 male 90s, 1 female 90s
- Lee County: 1 male 80s
- Livingston County: 1 male 70s, 1 male 80s
- Macon County: 1 female 60s, 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
- Macoupin County: 1 female 70s
- Madison County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s
- Marion County: 1 female 40s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Mason County: 1 female 60s
- McHenry County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- McLean County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Morgan County: 1 female 80s
- Peoria County: 1 female 60s, 1 male 80s, 1 female 90s
- Pike County: 1 female 70s
- Rock Island County: 1 female 70s, 1 male 90s
- Saline County: 1 male 80s
- St. Clair County: 1 male 80s
- Tazewell County: 1 male 70s, 1 female 80s
- Vermilion County: 1 female 90s
- Warren County: 1 male 70s
- Wayne County: 1 male 90s
- White County: 2 males 80s
- Whiteside County: 1 male 40s, 1 male 70s
- Will County: 1 female 50s, 1 female 60s, 2 males 60s, 2 females 80s, 2 males 80s, 1 female 90s
- Williamson County: 1 male 80s
- Winnebago County: 2 males 60s, 1 male 70s
Currently, IDPH is reporting a total of 523,840 cases, including 10,434 deaths, in 102 counties in Illinois. The age of cases ranges from younger than one to older than 100 years. Within the past 24 hours, laboratories have reported 93,464 specimens for a total 8,664,483. As of last night, 5,042 people in Illinois were reported to be in the hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 951 patients were in the ICU and 404 patients with COVID-19 were on ventilators.
The preliminary seven-day statewide positivity for cases as a percent of total test from November 34– November 10 is 12.4%. The preliminary seven-day statewide test positivity from November 4, 2020 – November 10, 2020 is 13.6%.
Sadly, another resident at the Illinois Veterans’ Home LaSalle (IVHL) has passed away. This is the seventh resident death at the home. Currently, there are 72 residents with COVID-19 and 72 employees.
The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is in regular consultation with IDPH and the Federal Department of Veterans’ Affairs and is following all public health guidance. After the first positive tests at the facility on November 1, 2020, visitation was halted on November 2, 2020 and new admissions postponed. All positive residents are isolating in a separate wing of the facility. Over the summer, IDVA constructed 25 negative pressure rooms with capacity for 44 residents, which is now in use in this wing. IDVA is also ramping up the use of antigen testing in the facility in order to more rapidly test residents and staff.
To help decrease the positivity rate, IDPH recommends the following.
Work from Home if Possible
For the next three weeks, work with your employer to plan to work from home unless it is necessary for you to be in the workplace. We ask employers to make accommodation for this. Our goal is to reduce transmission as we head into the holidays so businesses and schools can remain open.
Participate in Essential Activities Only
For the next three weeks, stay home as much as possible, leaving only for necessary and essential activities, such as work that must be performed outside the home, COVID-19 testing, visiting the pharmacy, and buying groceries.
Limit Travel and Gatherings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health experts tell us that gatherings and travel in and out of communities present a high risk of spreading the infection. In our current situation, with a rising prevalence of the virus, attending even small gatherings that mix households, or traveling to areas that are experiencing high rates of positivity, is not advised and is potentially dangerous. Please, travel only if necessary.
*All data are provisional and will change. In order to rapidly report COVID-19 information to the public, data are being reported in real-time. Information is constantly being entered into an electronic system and the number of cases and deaths can change as additional information is gathered. For health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 1-800-889-3931 or email dph.sick@illinois.gov.
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