# Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Thread - 2021 Breaking News **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428 "2021-01-01T08:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 68
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1372 "2021-05-14T09:05:03Z")
161,872,310 total cases 3,360,018 dead 139,705,919 recovered In the US: 33,626,097 total cases 598,540 dead 26,667,199 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 161,091,539 total cases > 3,345,293 dead > 138,880,158 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,586,136 total cases > 597,785 dead > 26,620,229 recovered ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1373 "2021-05-14T18:39:37Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > Good news for vaccinated people, but I imagine that this will mean everyone goes without masks now regardless of if they are vaccinated or not. That’s the central problem. You can’t use ordinary tools of positive and negative reinforcement in the face of widespread cheating. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1374 "2021-05-14T18:43:32Z")
Nobody seems to have posted this yet: some encouraging news from the UK. Especially encouraging for those of us who had to wait so long for our second shots of vaccine. OK, the author states that it’s a result specific to the Pfizer vaccine, which I didn’t get (but there were immunology results suggesting this effect for the AZ vaccine); and the study was carried out in subjects rather older than I am; but I’m still hopeful. [**Delaying a COVID vaccine’s second dose boosts immune response**](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01299-y) > Facing a limited vaccine supply, the United Kingdom embarked on a bold public-health experiment at the end of 2020: delaying second doses of COVID-19 vaccines in a bid to maximize the number of people who would be at least partially protected from hospitalization and death… > > …To determine whether the delay paid off, Amirthalingam and her colleagues studied 175 vaccine recipients older than 80 who received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine either 3 weeks or 11–12 weeks after the first dose. The team measured recipients’ levels of antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and assessed how immune cells called T cells, which can help to maintain antibody levels over time, responded to vaccination. > > Peak antibody levels were 3.5 times higher in those who waited 12 weeks for their booster shot than were those in people who waited only 3 weeks. Peak T-cell response was lower in those with the extended interval. But this did not cause antibody levels to decline more quickly over the nine weeks after the booster shot. More news: > **[A Possible Treatment For Rare Vaccine-induced Blood Clotting Emerges](https://brief19.com/2021/05/14/brief/a-possible-treatment-for-rare-vaccine-induced-blood-clotting-emerges)** > > Also... Uber And Lyft: But For Uber And Lyfting You To A Vaccine Center · CDC Changes Mask Guidelines For The Vaccinated. What Can You Do? Everything > For the first time, emergency physicians described the successful treatment of what looked to be a serious case of this new entity, which is being called vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), because the condition causes blood clots (“thrombotic”) and low levels of platelets (“thrombocytopenia”), which are a type of blood cell that helps with proper blood clot formation. The doctors used a blood thinner called bivalirudin. The peer-reviewed report has been pre-published in the [_Annals of Emergency Medicine_](https://www.annemergmed.com/pb/assets/raw/Health%2520Advance/journals/ymem/YMEM_2021-969.pdf)\* _._ j ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1375 "2021-05-15T04:18:11Z")
162,538,008 total cases 3,371,426 dead 140,397,997 recovered In the US: 33,664,013 total cases 599,314 dead 26,712,821 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 161,872,310 total cases > 3,360,018 dead > 139,705,919 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,626,097 total cases > 598,540 dead > 26,667,199 recovered It is likely that the US will surpass 600,000 covid-19 deaths tomorrow. Just about 14 months after it really hit us. It hasn’t been evenly distributed over that span of time by any means, but it averages out to a little under 43,000 deaths per month. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1376 "2021-05-15T15:45:01Z")
Related to my last post (two up) about new clinical evidence showing that delaying the second shot of vaccine improves efficacy, we have an odd situation evolving in the UK. A series of outbreaks of the highly contagious Indian variant has lead the authorities to _shorten_ the interval between shots (from 12 to 8 weeks) in order to ensure as many at-risk people as possible have a higher level of immunity as quickly as possible. Which leads to bit of a dilemma. Regarding the shortening of the dose interval to 8 weeks, effective immediately: > The deputy chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, Professor Anthony Harnden said that this was a better strategy than giving first jabs to younger people, as some local leaders have demanded. > > But he confirmed that earlier doses for over-50s will make the vaccine less effective for these individuals over the long term… > > …“This is a bit of a trade-off, and that we think that actually protecting vulnerable people with their second dose earlier might not give them better longer-term protection but it will give them better short-term protection, in this rather urgent situation with a highly transmissible virus.” > **[Bringing forward second jab reduces long-term effectiveness of vaccine, says...](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/coronavirus-indian-variant-vaccine-jcvi-b1848029.html)** > > ‘Trade-off’ needed due to rapid transmission of Indian variant j ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1377 "2021-05-15T15:52:07Z")
The recent study (linked just above at post #1374) that showed a longer interval induced a stronger response had a small sample size, and it did not look at efficacy against infection or disease or transmission directly - it looked at indirect measures like antibody titer. We already know that the mRNA vaccines are incredibly effective under the original protocol, already granting virtually _complete_ protection against serious consequences. With efficacy already so high, I think it’s probable that any efficacy difference between long and short protocols is negligible with regard to disease; perhaps it’s more of an open question with regard to transmission. Given what we know at this point, if supplies are now adequate and it’s no longer a choice between giving someone a second shot earlier and giving someone else **at high risk** a first shot, I think shortening the interval is probably the right decision. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1378 "2021-05-15T16:08:29Z")
I don’t disagree; and I do agree with the caveat “Given what we know at this point”. I’m assuming booster shots (probably covering variants) will be on the cards for autumn/winter, so that would have to be taken into account as well, when it comes to optimized long term protection. It would have been interesting to have had the Prof’s thoughts about that. j ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1379 "2021-05-16T04:25:10Z")
163,179,059 total cases 3,383,606 dead 141,478,916 recovered In the US: 33,695,916 total cases 599,863 dead 27,098,620 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 162,538,008 total cases > 3,371,426 dead > 140,397,997 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,664,013 total cases > 599,314 dead > 26,712,821 recovered ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1380 "2021-05-16T15:10:44Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > The recent study (linked just above at post #1374) that showed a longer interval induced a stronger response had a small sample size, and it did not look at efficacy against infection or disease or transmission directly - it looked at indirect measures like antibody titer. We already know that the mRNA vaccines are incredibly effective under the original protocol, already granting virtually _complete_ protection against serious consequences. With efficacy already so high, I think it’s probable that any efficacy difference between long and short protocols is negligible with regard to disease; perhaps it’s more of an open question with regard to transmission. > > Given what we know at this point, if supplies are now adequate and it’s no longer a choice between giving someone a second shot earlier and giving someone else **at high risk** a first shot, I think shortening the interval is probably the right decision. Also, if you read the papers that actually count antibodies, they all graph them on a log scale. A factor of 3.5 is really small change. What that really means is “we now have excellent evidence that we didn’t reduce long-term immunity by delaying the second dose”. And for some tiny subset of people, that factor of 3.5 might make a difference, but it would be a tiny subset. I think the UK did the right thing initially by delaying second doses, to make first doses more available to those at high risk. And they are probably doing the right thing in light of the more infectious variants to now hurry second doses to those who are most vulnerable. Here’s a sample article, just for kicks. Note the scales. [https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03412-7](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03412-7) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1381 "2021-05-17T04:08:35Z")
163,718,298 total cases 3,393,335 dead 142,184,301 recovered In the US: 33,715,951 total cases 600,147 dead 27,136,020 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 163,179,059 total cases > 3,383,606 dead > 141,478,916 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,695,916 total cases > 599,863 dead > 27,098,620 recovered ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2021, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1383 "2021-05-17T21:47:52Z")
> **[Texas reports 0 COVID-related deaths for the first time since March 2020](https://abc13.com/texas-covid-19-coronavirus-deaths-tx-covid-cases-how-many-people-have-in/10650095/)** > > "Thanks, Texans!" Gov. Abbott said in a tweet announcing the state's fewest cases in over 13 months and lowest seven day positivity rate ever. > Today Texas reported: > > - 0 Covid related deaths–the only time that’s happened since data was tracked in March, 2020. > > - the fewest Covid cases in over 13 months > > - the lowest 7-day Covid positivity rate ever > > - the lowest Covid hospitalizations in 11 months. > > Thanks, Texans! > > — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott\_TX) [May 17, 2021](https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1394090593672994822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) WHOA! This is big. Knock on wood. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1384 "2021-05-18T04:08:59Z")
164,278,319 total cases 3,404,457 dead 142,997,739 recovered In the US: 33,747,439 total cases 600,533 dead 27,202,309 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 163,718,298 total cases > 3,393,335 dead > 142,184,301 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,715,951 total cases > 600,147 dead > 27,136,020 recovered ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1385 "2021-05-18T15:18:37Z")
For some reason, the Johns Hopkins site shows the number of new daily reported cases rising very rapidly in Alabama > **[Have we flattened the curve in the US? - Johns Hopkins](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases-50-states/alabama)** > > Daily Confirmed Case Trends (7-Day Moving Average) in the US The seven-day averaged number of cases is up to the level it was back in February. No other state is doing anything like this. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1386 "2021-05-18T18:13:04Z")
It might be relevant that Alabama is near the bottom of states in vaccination rate by any measure v > **[How are the COVID-19 vaccine and booster campaigns going in your state?](https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/28/960901166/how-is-the-covid-19-vaccination-campaign-going-in-your-state)** > > The U.S. is striving to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19 — and keep them up-to-date with boosters. But some states are lagging behind. See how yours is faring. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1387 "2021-05-18T18:41:35Z")
From the data notes for Alabama: > On March 15, 2021, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) posted a notice that they have processed a backlog of 4007 cases on 03/14/21. These will be classified as confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported on 03/15/21 even though the tests were performed on during October 1, 2020 through January 1, 2021. This will result in a case and positivity spike in the data. The most likely reason for anomalous spikes is always going to be a reporting or data issue, and both Johns Hopkins and Worldometers are generally good about pointing them out. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1388 "2021-05-18T18:45:56Z")
Thx (More characters) ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1389 "2021-05-18T19:50:12Z")
**Important study showing efficacy of Pfizer vaccine against UK & South African variants** @nelliebly posted this in the other thread. [https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2104974](https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2104974) The U.K. & South African variants are the predominant strains in Qatar, and Qatar has an extensive vaccination program that began in December. This study has a very large sample size. Efficacy against any infection (PCR positive, including asymptomatic): B1.1.7 (U.K.) strain = **90%** B1.351 (S.A.) strain = **75%** But most important, **efficacy against severe disease was 97%**. Severe disease was defined according to WHO criteria found [here see p14](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-2019-nCoV-clinical-2021-1), requiring oxygen support. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1390 "2021-05-19T00:10:54Z")
The 3.3m figure of global dead comes from official figures. According to _The Economist_, the actual number may be 10.2m if one considers excess deaths compared to the usual expected value (see article, some statistical manipulation is involved). Although Covid originally seemed to spare Africa and South America, this is no longer the case. Some countries may be underreporting deaths - the true value could be 13 times higher than official numbers in Egypt, 3 times higher in South Africa, considerably higher in many African Countries or places like Russia or China. Scary! > **[There have been 7m-13m excess deaths worldwide during the pandemic](https://www.economist.com/briefing/2021/05/15/there-have-been-7m-13m-excess-deaths-worldwide-during-the-pandemic)** > > The rich world suffered relatively badly, but most of the dying has been elsewhere ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2021, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1391 "2021-05-19T04:31:23Z")
164,901,667 total cases 3,418,730 dead 143,862,822 recovered In the US: 33,774,945 total cases 601,330 dead 27,253,327 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 164,278,319 total cases > 3,404,457 dead > 142,997,739 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,747,439 total cases > 600,533 dead > 27,202,309 recovered ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2021, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428/1392 "2021-05-20T04:48:46Z")
165,568,854 total cases 3,431,786 dead 144,589,029 recovered In the US: 33,802,324 total cases 601,949 dead 27,299,180 recovered Yesterday’s numbers for comparison: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > 164,901,667 total cases > 3,418,730 dead > 143,862,822 recovered > > In the US: > > 33,774,945 total cases > 601,330 dead > 27,253,327 recovered [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=67) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-covid-19-2019-ncov-thread-2021-breaking-news/929428.md?page=69)