Belvidere Superintendent hired to become Warren Township's superintendent starting July 1, 2022

By Nick Landi

BELVIDERE (WREX) — Belvidere School District Superintendent Daniel Woestman will resign after Warren Township High School District named him its new leader.

Woestman was hired to become Warren Township's superintendent starting July 1, 2022. The district is located in Gurnee.

Under Woestman's leadership, Belvidere has been recognized at the state and national levels for its career readiness programs, increases in early-college opportunities for high school students, positive work environment, and continuous improvement structures, according to a news release from Warren Township.

"I am honored by the opportunity to be part of the Warren Township High School community," Dr. Woestman said in a news release. "High schools are such an important part of every community, and I hope to continue the strong traditions that are part of the WTHS history. I'm excited to work and learn alongside the great people that make this district the amazing place it's known to be."

Woestman has 15 years of experience in public education leadership that includes work at Rockford Public Schools and Hononegah High School. He was chosen from a field of 40 candidates in a nationwide search.

Belvidere School District has not named a replacement for Woestman at this time.

Above is from:  https://www.wrex.com/news/top-stories/belvidere-superintendent-hired-to-lead-gurnee-area-school-district/article_6f589248-6361-11ec-a2d9-3f93376685dd.html

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Warren Township High School

DISTRICT 121 | GURNEE, ILLINOIS

 

Superintendent Search

December 22, 2021

Dear Warren Township High School District 121 Families and Community:

The Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Daniel “Danny” Woestman, has been hired to serve as the Superintendent of Schools beginning July 1, 2022.  He will fill the position currently held by Dr. John Ahlgrim, who has led the District since 2015 and will be retiring at the end of this school year.

The WTHS School Board is excited and fortunate to have Dr. Woestman join the Warren Township High School team.  As our new Superintendent, Danny’s experience and positive energy will be a great addition to both our school and our community.

With 15 years of experience in education, Dr. Woestman is currently the Superintendent of Schools at Belvidere School District 100.  Under Dr. Woestman's leadership, Belvidere has been recognized at the state and national levels for their career readiness programs, increases in early-college opportunities for high school students, positive work environment, and continuous improvement structures.

Before taking that position, Dr. Woestman served for five years in leadership roles at Rockford Public Schools as an Assistant Superintendent and Director of Accountability. He also served as an Assistant Principal at Hononegah Community High School.  He began his education career as an English teacher at Hononegah Community High School in northern Illinois and Springville High School in Utah. 

"I am honored by the opportunity to be part of the Warren Township High School community," Dr. Woestman said. "High schools are such an important part of every community, and I hope to continue the strong traditions that are part of the WTHS history. I'm excited to work and learn alongside the great people that make this district the amazing place it's known to be."

District 121’s Board of Education conducted a national search for the incoming superintendent.  The process included an online survey to develop a candidate profile that served as a guide during candidate screening and subsequent interviews.  The search firm received applications from 40 candidates and narrowed the field to six semi-finalists who interviewed with the Board of Education.  The top two candidates returned for interviews with District administration, union representatives, parents and community members and their feedback was provided to the Board of Education to take into consideration for the final interviews. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in this most important process. 

Sincerely,

Board of Education
Warren Township High School District 121

November 21: Johns Hopkins COVID 19 Report

COVID-19 Situation Report

Editor: Alyson Browett, MPH

Contributors: Clint Haines, MS; Natasha Kaushal, MSPH; Amanda Kobokovich, MPH; Christina Potter, MSPH; Matthew Shearer, MPH; Marc Trotochaud, MSPH; and, Rachel A. Vahey, MHS.

RISE OF OMICRON The Omicron variant of concern (VOC) has become the predominant variant across North America and Europe, while the rest of the world braces for the eventual takeover. The WHO announced on December 18 that 89 countries have now reported Omicron within their borders, with high likelihood that cases are in many other countries but have simply not yet been confirmed. While the Delta VOC previously overtook other circulating variants to become the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant, Omicron’s rise in these regions occurred precipitously, within 1 month after it was first reported in South Africa on November 24. While preliminary data out of South Africa indicated that infection with the Omicron variant was less likely to lead to hospitalization, the sheer number of cases resulting from the highly transmissible variant appear to be causing significant healthcare strain and societal disruption.

In the US, Omicron now accounts for 73.2% of the total number of SARS-CoV-2 infections, compared to 1 week ago when it accounted for only 12.6% of all infections. As of December 20, 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC, have reported cases of Omicron; South Dakota and Oklahoma have yet to report cases. This rapid increase in Omicron cases has startled public health officials. With cases currently doubling every 1.5 to 3 days, healthcare facilities are bracing for a surge in hospitalizations, with some regions already experiencing these challenges. In the Northeast, where cases are currently surging, states like Rhode Island and Maine are reporting that their hospitals are being strained to their limits. As community members seek medical care in high numbers, healthcare staff are also testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, further exacerbating the strain on resources. Some states are activating their National Guards to help bolster medical, testing, and vaccination efforts. With testing lines wrapping around city blocks and holiday travel quickly approaching, public health officials are urging all who are able to get fully vaccinated and receive their booster shots. US President Joe Biden is set to address the nation tonight and is expected to announce plans to supply free tests and more aid for hospitals.

Outside of the US, other countries are facing the same challenges with the added difficulties of lower vaccination rates due to decreased access and supply. While most world leaders seem hesitant to initiate lockdowns akin to the initial March 2020 responses, many are implementing restrictions in an effort to slow the entry of Omicron into their nations. Israel has banned travel to North America and many European countries, while Asia Pacific island nations are moving to close their borders to international travelers or at least increase surveillance and quarantine measures for inbound travelers. In many European countries where Omicron is already spreading at high rates, some leaders are considering implementing stricter measures ahead of the holiday season. In the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated he is considering a number of measures, including lockdowns, as COVID-related hospitalizations rise. Regardless of strategy, all countries are trying to accelerate their vaccination programs to prevent a collapse of their healthcare systems.



VACCINE EFFICACY As the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) continues to rapidly spread around the world, preliminary data all of the vaccines appear to provide protection against severe disease, but most of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines used worldwide may offer little defense against infection from the highly contagious variant. According to a not-yet-peer-reviewed analysis from Imperial College London, Omicron can largely evade vaccine-induced immunity or immunity from a past infection, with the risk of reinfection estimated to be 5.4 times greater than that with the Delta VOC. The researchers estimated that vaccine effectiveness (for AstraZeneca-Oxford and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines) against symptomatic Omicron infection is between 0% and 20% after 2 doses and between 55% and 80% after a booster dose. Preliminary laboratory results from Moderna released this week in a press release showed a 50 μg booster dose—the same formulation authorized as a booster by the US FDA—produced a 37-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies compared with the primary 2-dose series, while a full 100 μg dose booster produced an 83-fold increase over 2 doses. The full dose had slightly more side effects than the half dose. Pfizer-BioNTech earlier this month announced a booster dose of their vaccine also helped increase neutralizing antibodies against Omicron. All of the studies are preliminary and do not take into account the full spectrum of the human immune response.

Still, some experts are saying that a 3-dose vaccination schedule will be necessary and some evidence shows the time between a second and third dose can be shortened from 6 months to 3 months. Several countries—such as South Korea, UK, Thailand, Belgium, France, Singapore, Taiwan, Italy, and Australia—have decreased the required wait time between doses to between 3 and 5 months to prepare for the arrival of Omicron. Others—including the US, South Africa, and Germany—are sticking to a 6-month schedule. Though there is some concern that shortening the gap could compromise immune response to vaccinations, others say a 6-month interval is arbitrary and urge booster doses sooner to counter waning antibody levels. Many uncertainties remain about how pre-existing immunity, whether from vaccination or previous infection, will help during infection with Omicron, and some evidence suggests Omicron-specific vaccine boosters will be necessary. While many higher-income nations are focused on vaccinating, and boosting, their populations, only 8% of the populations in low-income countries have received at least 1 dose of vaccine. It is important that the international community not lose focus on global goals pertaining to vaccine access and administration.

OMICRON SEVERITY An initial study (unpublished) on the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) conducted in South Africa suggests that adults are approximately 30% less likely to be hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 now than during the Delta surge. Health experts from the region also claim that hospitalized patients are less likely to end up on ventilators or require intensive care, on average, than during previous surges of COVID-19. However, scientists and public health officials have been quick to point out that the mild reactions to Omicron in South Africa may not be seen in Europe and the US. A large percentage of the South African population is young, by comparison, and many already have some immunity to SARS-CoV-2 due to prior infection during previous surges or vaccination. This immunity is believed to be a prominent factor driving the reduced disease severity observed in South Africa. In the US, researchers from the Covid-19 Modeling Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin looked at 18 different scenarios for Omicron, warning that under the most pessimistic model, “Omicron could lead to the largest healthcare surge to date, unless measures are taken to slow spread.” The data have not yet been peer-reviewed.

As such, concerns over hospital capacity are rising, as many individuals are expected to travel and spend time with family during the holiday season, increasing the risk of transmission of the highly contagious VOC. US states such as New York and New Jersey are already reporting high hospitalization rates and an increased demand for testing. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reports that more than 76% of ICU beds are currently in use, with 21% of those beds being used for COVID-19 patients. Additionally, Regeneron and Eli Lilly are warning that their antibody treatments for COVID-19 might be less potent against Omicron. The US reported its first Omicron-related death on December 20. The UK offers an unsettling potential lens into the future for the US. The UK Health Security Agency reports at least 14 deaths due to Omicron and 129 hospitalizations as of December 20, up from 7 and 85 on December 18. While it remains too early to tell the damage Omicron will inflict, the growing number of deaths and hospitalizations indicate that the variant should not be viewed as a slightly worse form of the common cold.

NOVAVAX VACCINE Following months of manufacturing delays, the 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine from biotechnology company Novavax, NVX-CoV2373, received conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission on December 20 and an emergency use listing (EUL) from the WHO on December 17. In Europe, the vaccine is known as Nuvaxovid and is the fifth vaccine to receive authorization to prevent COVID-19 in adults aged 18 years and older. Novavax expects to begin shipping the vaccine to the European Union in the first quarter of 2022. The WHO’s EUL—the ninth for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine—is for a version of the vaccine manufactured and marketed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), under license from Novavax, known as Covovax. The WHO listing allows the COVAX facility to distribute the vaccine with hopes of bolstering global vaccine supply. Covovax—an adjuvanted, recombinant spike protein nanoparticle vaccine—is less expensive and simpler to manufacture than some of the other vaccine types and easier to distribute, as it can be stored for 6 months in normal refrigeration.

The New England Journal of Medicine last week published results from a phase 3 clinical trial testing the vaccine in nearly 30,000 adults in the US and Mexico, showing vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection to be 90.4%, with 100% efficacy against moderate-to-severe disease. Most of the COVID-19 cases sequenced in the study were caused by B.1.1.7 (Alpha), and the vaccine’s efficacy against any variant of concern (VOC) or interest was 92.6%. The vaccine’s efficacy against the new Omicron VOC is unknown, but having another effective vaccine is important in helping to control the pandemic. In November, Indonesia was the first country to grant emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Novavax vaccine, followed by the Philippines. The company has plans to apply for an EUA with the US FDA by the end of the year.

PFIZER-BIONTECH VACCINE IN YOUNG CHILDREN Pfizer-BioNTech last week released an update on its ongoing phase 1/2/3 study evaluating their SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among children ages 6 months to under 5 years of age. An immunogenicity analysis showed that 1 month after the second 3 µg dose of the vaccine, participants aged 2 to under 5 did not show a robust immune response to the lower-dose shots when compared to the immune responses seen in older teens and young adults. The companies said the trial will continue but they plan to evaluate a third 3 µg dose of vaccine administered at least 2 months after the second dose to all age groups in the study, with the hope that a 3-dose regimen will elicit more protective immune responses. The companies said no safety concerns have arisen. The data have not been released publicly and many questions remain, including what the immune response was in the 2 to under-5 age group, if any.

The shift in plans also pushes back the companies’ expected timeline to submit results to the US FDA from the end of this year to the second quarter of 2022, if the results are positive. They also announced plans to test a third dose of the already authorized 10 µg formulation in children ages 5 to 12 years; a trial to evaluate a third dose of 10 µg or 30 µg in adolescents ages 12 to 17 in order to assess safety and immunogenicity; and the development of an Omicron variant-specific vaccine. The companies also last week filed with the FDA to request that adolescents ages 12 to 15 years be included in the vaccine’s full approval, with filings in the European Union and other regulatory authorities expected soon. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, known as Comirnaty, received full FDA approval as a 2-dose (30 µg) regimen for individuals ages 16 years and older in August.

“TEST TO STAY” GUIDANCE The US CDC on December 17 said unvaccinated students exposed to a person with COVID-19 can remain in school if they are tested twice in the week following exposure and both tests are negative. The new guidance, known as “test to stay,” is an effort to keep children in school instead of having to quarantine at home and miss class, while also alleviating the burden on parents to arrange child care. The new protocol—which should be used as one method in a layered prevention approach—is based on 2 studies published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), one examining the policy in Los Angeles County, California, and the other in Lake County, Illinois. The studies were conducted prior to the detection of the fast-spreading Omicron variant of concern, but CDC officials said they have confidence the mitigation strategy will work and will update guidance as needed. Agency officials also urged parents to vaccinate their children if they are eligible, as it remains the best way to prevent infection or severe disease. Under current CDC guidance, vaccinated people do not have to quarantine after a known exposure unless they have symptoms but should be tested 5-7 days after the exposure and wear a mask until testing negative.

US VACCINE MANDATES A federal appeals court last week lifted the stay on the Biden administration’s “vaccine or test” COVID-19 mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees, prompting confusion over whether companies need to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) temporary rule. Following the order, several appeals were filed with the US Supreme Court requesting Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who has jurisdiction over the appeals court that lifted the stay, to consider the rule and immediately enjoin enforcement of the rule. Justice Kavanaugh likely will refer the case to the full court, and the justices have not acted on the emergency request. The Supreme Court asked the Biden administration to file its response by December 30, and the court is expected to make a decision in early 2022. Separately, the Biden administration has asked the court to stay lower-court decisions enjoining enforcement of a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The Supreme Court has generally supported vaccine mandates implemented by state governments and universities but shown more nuance when considering federal pandemic-related rules.

Meanwhile, the US Armed Forces are beginning disciplinary actions, including dismissals, for members of the military who have not yet been vaccinated. As many as 20,000 troops risk being discharged. The US Department of Defense also is requiring members of the National Guard to be vaccinated against COVID-19. But governors from 5 states—Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, Mississippi, and Nebraska—are pushing back on the mandate, arguing in a letter that National Guard members fall under the jurisdiction of their state, unless they are federally deployed, and would therefore not be subject to federal mandates. The Defense Department has not responded to the letter. Notably, the department last month rejected a request from Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to exclude the state’s National Guard members from the federal mandate, instead releasing new guidance saying members who refuse vaccination will receive a general officer memorandum of reprimand, which could be grounds for administrative separation.

MODERNA VACCINE PATENT DISPUTE Moderna has paused a dispute with the US government by not taking the final step in obtaining a patent for technologies used in its SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. The company said making the payment to obtain the patent “could interfere with further discussions aimed at an amicable resolution” with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and wanted to “avoid any distractions” in ongoing collaboration amid efforts to respond to the quickly spreading Omicron variant of concern (VOC). At issue is who should be credited with developing the genetic sequence technology used in the company’s mRNA vaccine. Scientists from Moderna and NIH worked quickly in early 2020 to invent the technology, but Moderna has disputed claims that the NIH researchers are co-inventors. Moderna maintains that only its scientists deserve credit and has filed an application to pursue a patent at a later date. Moderna is projected to bring in as much as US$18 billion in sales of the vaccine this year and has been under increasing pressure to share its vaccine technology with low- and middle-income countries in order to increase global supply. At this time, it is unclear whether Moderna’s decision to pause its patent application has implications for the US government’s global vaccination strategy.

HELP: Cleveland hospitals take out ad begging for help

Get Vaccinated. Get tested.

After Cleveland hospitals take out ad begging for help, local doctor says 'we're in crisis here in Northeast Ohio'

Kylie Mar

·Host & Producer, Yahoo Entertainment

Tue, December 21, 2021, 1:14 AM

On Anderson Cooper 360 Monday, fill-in host John Berman interviewed Dr. Brook Watts, the chief medical officer at the MetroHealth System in Cleveland, following the issue of a simple, but powerful, ad in which a group of Ohio hospitals begged for "help."

"We're in crisis here in Northeast Ohio," Watts said. "I think the health systems, together, said it best this weekend, when we took out a joint ad with all hospitals in our region and it said one word. It said, 'Help.' It said help because our hospitals are filled with patients with COVID and we're struggling."

On Monday, it was also reported that the Omicron variant is now the most dominant strain in the U.S. and, just last week, as Ohio's COVID-19 case count hit its highest point in just over a year, the state deployed its National Guard to hospitals to help with staffing shortages.

"They will be coming into our Cleveland area to help offer access for testing. Right now, because we have so many COVID cases, there isn't a rapid test to be found, and the PCR tests that are offered generally at testing sites, the wait period is approximately seven days. So the National Guard will be helping us by setting up the testing site," Watts explained.

With a record-breaking amount of COVID patients in Ohio's hospitals, Watts also shared that the majority are unvaccinated and, surprisingly, young.

"We continue to see that most of our patients, particularly the patients in the ICUs, are unvaccinated," said Watts, adding, "I think what felt a little bit, perhaps, different for me this time having taken care of COVID patients since the beginning of the pandemic is I do feel like we are seeing more younger folks. There is nothing more heartbreaking than walking into a COVID patient's room, and seeing pictures of their young children. So, young parents."

While it seems like Watts might be overwhelmed or scared during this time, she actually just said she feels exhausted. "Last year, we were in a similar situation but we sure had a lot of hope that we were going to get to a better place. I just don't think any of us saw this coming. For us right now, most of the patients in the hospital still have the Delta variant, but as you mentioned in your intro, Omicron is coming on fast and strong and we are all sort of waiting to see what happens next," Watts said. "And I think that unknown and that fear is contributing to the exhaustion we are all feeling."

Above is from:  https://www.yahoo.com/news/after-cleveland-hospitals-take-out-ad-begging-for-help-doctor-says-were-in-crisis-here-in-ohio-071449178.html

Federal Tax Revenue increases during Pandemic

TAX

U.S. sees biggest revenue surge in 44 years despite pandemic

Revenues jumped 18 percent in the fiscal year that just ended, analysts say — the biggest one-year increase since 1977.

The Treasury Department is set to release this week its final budget numbers for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

By BRIAN FALER

10/12/2021 12:14 PM EDT

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Despite a pandemic, a recession and a slew of tax cuts, federal tax receipts are booming.

Revenues jumped 18 percent in the fiscal year that just ended, analysts say — the biggest one-year increase since 1977.

That translates into $627 billion more than in 2020, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which estimates that, for the first time, total government revenues topped $4 trillion.

“They are just booming,” said Mark Booth, a former top revenue forecaster at the agency. “It is very unusual.”

Though Democrats are hammering the rich for not paying their fair share in taxes, the increase is being driven by levies primarily paid by the well-to-do. For example, corporate tax receipts leapt 75 percent, CBO says. At $370 billion, they easily top where they were immediately before Republicans slashed the corporate rate as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

The surge has gotten relatively little notice, obscured perhaps by the government’s towering budget deficits and congressional battles over taxes and spending.

It is highly unusual, though, for the government to see a big wave of revenue in the wake of an economic downturn. Typically, receipts crash following recessions because, as people’s incomes fall, they owe less to the Treasury.

The coronavirus downturn was much more bifurcated, however, with higher-income people, who pay most federal taxes, doing far better than low earners.

“Usually revenues get hit hard in the year after a recession,” said Booth. “This time it is the opposite.”

The Treasury Department is set to release this week its final budget numbers for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. Those are expected to closely track estimates CBO published Friday.

The increases came across all major categories of taxes, according to CBO, with corporate receipts seeing the biggest jump, thanks to better-than-expected profits.

Payments by big companies had plunged in the wake of Republicans’ 2017 tax cuts, falling by almost a third to $205 billion the following year. They didn’t really begin to bounce back until this past fiscal year and then recovered to an extent that surprised analysts.

CBO repeatedly revised upward its estimates, and still came in too low. At $370 billion, the corporate tax haul would be the biggest, at least in nominal terms, since 2007.

Another big increase — 33 percent — came with “non-withheld” receipts, which include a variety of taxes that are not subject to withholding by employers.

CBO did not provide a breakdown of those levies. But big changes there are usually driven by capital gains realizations and payments by unincorporated businesses. And the agency previously upped its estimates of capital gains taxes over the past year.

Individual income taxes were up 27.5 percent, CBO estimates. Those too are disproportionately paid by the well-to-do, with 80 percent coming from the top 10 percent of earners.

The increases came despite lawmakers approving a series of tax cuts in the wake of the pandemic. At the time, they were projected to cost nearly $500 billion in 2021 — which would make them bigger than the first year’s worth of tax cuts included in Republicans’ 2017 legislation.

But some of the pandemic-related tax cuts, such as an employee retention credit meant to help keep workers on the payroll, were less popular than lawmakers anticipated — just because Congress cuts takes doesn’t mean everyone necessarily takes advantage of them.

Above is from:  https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/12/tax-revenue-surge-pandemic-515792?cid=apn

December 16: Johns Hopkins COVID 19 Report

COVID-19 Situation Report

Editor: Alyson Browett, MPH

Contributors: Clint Haines, MS; Natasha Kaushal, MSPH; Amanda Kobokovich, MPH; Christina Potter, MSPH; Matthew Shearer, MPH; Marc Trotochaud, MSPH; and, Rachel A. Vahey, MHS.

EPI UPDATE The WHO COVID-19 Dashboard reports 270.8 million cumulative cases and 5.32 million deaths worldwide as of December 15. Global weekly incidence increased for the eighth consecutive week, up 0.89% from the previous week. At 4.2 million new cases, last week was 75% of the highest weekly total (April 2021). Europe continues to account for the vast majority of the increase, especially as the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) spreads throughout the region. The UK reported a record number of 78,610 new COVID-19 cases on December 15, 16% higher than its previous record set in January. Weekly incidence in Africa has more than doubled over last week, up from 79,491 new cases the week of November 29 to 167,682 new cases last week. Global weekly mortality has held relatively steady at approximately 50,000 deaths per week since late October.

Global Vaccination

The WHO reported 8.2 billion cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines administered globally as of December 13. A total of 4.35 billion individuals have received at least 1 dose, and 3.47 billion are fully vaccinated. Analysis from Our World in Data indicates that the overall trend in global daily vaccinations has increased since mid-October, up from 21.3 million doses per week to 36.4 million on December 15.* Our World in Data estimates that there are 4.45 billion vaccinated individuals worldwide (1+ dose; 56.55% of the global population) and 3.67 billion who are fully vaccinated (46.4% of the global population).

*The average daily doses administered may exhibit a sharp decrease for the most recent data, particularly over the weekend, which indicates effects of reporting delays. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent data.

UNITED STATES

On December 13, the US surpassed 50 million cumulative COVID-19 cases:

1 case to 10 million: 289 days

10 to 20 million: 54 days

20 to 30 million: 85 days

30 to 40 million: 162 days

40 to 50 million: 100 days

As of December 14, the US CDC reports 50.2 million cumulative COVID-19 cases and 797,877 deaths. Daily incidence has increased steadily since the most recent low on October 24, up from 64,152 new cases per day to 117,950 on December 14—+84% over that period. Daily mortality is currently 1,143 deaths per day and likely will rise as daily incidence continues to increase.*

At the current pace, the US likely will surpass 800,000 cumulative deaths today or tomorrow. More people have died of COVID-19 in the US than are estimated to have died in the Civil War, the nation’s deadliest conflict (750,000 deaths). And the official number of COVID-19-related deaths likely is an undercount. If the US surpasses this benchmark on December 16:

1 death to 100k: 87 days

100k to 200k: 111 days

200k to 300k: 88 days

300k to 400k: 35 days

400k to 500k: 33 days

500k to 600k: 121 days

600k to 700k: 105 days

700k to 800k: 78 days

*Changes in state-level reporting may affect the accuracy of recently reported data, particularly over weekends. In an effort to reflect the longer-term trends, the numbers reported here may not correspond to the most recent dates.

US Vaccination

The US has administered 488.3 million cumulative doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Daily vaccinations have remained relatively steady over the past week, but have increased steadily since early July, up from 446,000 doses per day to 1.53 million on December 10, which is higher than the average prior to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.*

There are 240 million individuals who have received at least 1 vaccine dose, equivalent to 72.3% of the entire US population. Among adults, 84.6% have received at least 1 dose, as well as 21.5 million children under the age of 18. A total of 202.8 million individuals are fully vaccinated**, which corresponds to 61.1% of the total population. Approximately 72.2% of adults are fully vaccinated, as well as 16.4 million children under the age of 18. Since August 13, 56.1 million fully vaccinated individuals have received an additional or booster dose, including 42.3% of fully vaccinated adults aged 65 years or older.

*Due to delays in reporting, estimates for the average daily doses administered are less accurate for the most recent 5 days. The most current average provided here corresponds to 5 days ago.

**Full original course of the vaccine, not including additional or booster doses.

IMMUNITY AGAINST OMICRON Preliminary results from laboratory studies examining the durability of immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, and particularly booster doses, or previous SARS-CoV-2 infections in the face of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) are coming fast and furious. While it is clear that the quickly spreading variant can cause breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated individuals and those who have recovered from previous infections, questions remain over how well the vaccines and their boosters will help prevent severe disease, hospitalization, or death.

The WHO held a global consultation on December 15 to examine evidence about Omicron’s ability to evade immunity, and heard reports on several studies suggesting that T cells—a type of white blood cell that play an important role in the human immune system—in vaccinated people can mount a robust defense against the VOC. While it seems increasingly likely that Omicron’s immune evasion will lead to an increase in new infections, even in fully vaccinated and previously infected individuals, researchers predict that T cells will maintain their ability to perform at a high level to help prevent severe disease.

A preprint study—published on medRxiv and not yet peer-reviewed—from researchers working at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), reinforces the potential positive impact of booster doses. The research team explored how well the 3 vaccines authorized in the US (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, and J&J-Janssen) withstood a pseudovirus that was built to imitate the Omicron VOC. The findings showed “low to absent” antibody neutralization from blood sera taken from people who received a complete regimen of vaccine. In positive results, individuals who had received booster doses of an mRNA vaccine exhibited potent neutralization of the Omicron pseudovirus, highlighting the potential importance of boosters in mounting stronger immune responses.

The idea of immune escape raises several questions about the future of currently available SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, with several schools of thought emerging. Some experts argue that individuals who have received full regimens of 2-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccines will be sufficiently protected against severe outcomes of COVID-19, while others are pushing booster doses for fully vaccinated individuals based on several laboratory studies showing the extra dose might provide some additional protection. Other researchers are calling for a rapid investment into tailored vaccines specifically designed to address the Omicron variant. All 3 arguments have merits, and it remains unclear which direction the global community—at least those nations with sufficient vaccine access and capacity—will go. The conversation surrounding vaccine booster doses and SARS-CoV-2 variants will continue for the foreseeable future, changing as new data become available.

BREAKTHROUGH CASES With the proportion of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) expected to surge in the coming weeks in the US, more data are being collected on who is becoming infected, including people who are fully vaccinated.* According to US CDC data published last week, 34 of the 43 Omicron cases initially recorded were in fully vaccinated people, 14 of whom had received a booster.** While much is still unknown about Omicron’s ability to dodge vaccine-induced immunity, it appears Omicron is able to skirt at least some protection garnered from vaccination and cause breakthrough cases. A new report from the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker—which was conducted prior to Omicron’s detection and is based primarily on COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta variant—suggests that COVID-19 breakthrough cases are highly correlated with age (more common among those aged 65 and older) and underlying health conditions. A recent Wall Street Journal analysis came to the same conclusions. According to CDC data posted on November 22, unvaccinated persons had 14 times the risk of dying in September compared to vaccinated persons, showing that vaccination continues to be the best way to reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.

*Full original course of the vaccine, not including additional or booster doses.

**Of those who had received a booster dose, 5 were within a 14-day window.

ASYMPTOMATIC CASES In a global meta-analysis published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from China found that 40.5% (95% CI, 33.50%-47.50%) of people who had confirmed positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 never became symptomatic. Although they represented only 0.25% (95% CI, 0.23%-0.27%) of the overall pooled tested population, the study highlights the potential transmission risk of asymptomatic cases in communities. The researchers included data from 95 individual studies covering 29,776,306 individuals undergoing testing. The pooled percentage of asymptomatic cases varied among different populations: 4.52% in nursing home residents or staff; 2.02% in air or cruise travelers; 2.34% in pregnant women; 1.46% in close contacts; 0.75% in healthcare workers or in-hospital patients; and 0.40% in community residents. Among confirmed cases, the pooled percentage of asymptomatic cases was notably highest among pregnant women (54.11%), followed by air or cruise travelers (52.91%), nursing home residents or staff (47.53%), community residents (39.74%), healthcare workers or in-hospital patients (30.01%), and close contacts (26.94%). In addition to the risk that an asymptomatic infected person could unwittingly pass the virus to others, infected asymptomatic individuals likely do not have robust immune responses and might not develop lasting neutralizing antibodies that could help ward off another infection. Additionally, people with asymptomatic COVID-19 still remain susceptible to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, or “long COVID.” The findings underline the importance of comprehensive, widespread testing and highlight the suspicion that many COVID-19 cases go undetected.

J&J-JANSSEN VACCINE CONTRAINDICATION ​​The US FDA on December 14 updated its fact sheets on the J&J-Janssen SARS-CoV-2 vaccine for healthcare providers and the general public to include a contraindication for individuals with a history of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia following the vaccine or any other adenovirus-vectored vaccine for COVID-19, as well as updated information about the risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) following vaccination. The risk of TTS after vaccination using the J&J-Janssen vaccine remains low, but about 15% of cases have been fatal, according to the FDA. The highest reporting rate is among females between the ages of 30 and 49 (about 1 case per 100,000 doses administered). The US CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) is meeting today to discuss the data and possibly recommend limitations on the use of the J&J-Janssen vaccine. The clotting issues also have been linked to the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, which is not authorized in the US, but have not been reported with the mRNA vaccines from Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.

VACCINE PASSPORTS Many nations, localities, and businesses are beginning to mandate proof of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, or so-called vaccine passports, for entry onto public transportation and into venues such as restaurants, night clubs, and stadiums. Public health officials agree that vaccination is the best way to prevent COVID-19 or lower the risk of severe disease, but others question the utility of vaccine certificates, with some nations experiencing protests and riots. A modeling study published this week in The Lancet Public Health suggests that countries that required proof of vaccination, recent infection, or negative SARS-CoV-2 test to engage in activities or travel generally saw an increase in uptake of the vaccines. The researchers examined the effects of vaccine requirements in 6 countries and found that COVID-19 certifications lead to increased uptake of vaccines 20 days prior to implementation and up to 40 days following, with the highest increases among populations aged 49 and younger. More widespread vaccinations help to protect individuals from severe illness but also help curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in vulnerable communities and demographics, a critical issue amid the current Omicron variant of concern-associated surge. Policymakers should consider vaccine certification as part of their COVID-19 strategies to address vaccine complacency and hesitancy and potentially increase uptake but keep in mind ethical considerations, as the requirements will not work among all populations.

US COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES The heightened transmissibility of the Omicron variant of concern (VOC) presents a number of new challenges for institutions that have returned to in-person or hybrid activities. US colleges and universities—which can be hotbeds for disease transmission given the frequency of large group gatherings and the existence of communal living spaces—are now revisiting their COVID-19 mitigation strategies to account for Omicron. Already, several schools have reported cases of the Omicron variant in addition to their weekly reports. Cornell University this week reported more than 900 new COVID-19 cases, with many suspected to be Omicron infections among fully vaccinated students, some of whom had received booster doses. Cornell decided to close in-person activity at its Ithaca branch in response to the outbreak. Other schools, including New York University, have begun to cancel nonessential gatherings and events and are requiring booster shots for students who plan to return to campus for the spring semester. While many colleges and universities are keeping their current mitigation strategies in place for the remainder of the fall semester, school officials are watching data closely to prepare for the larger challenge of what to do when students return in the new year.