COVID-19 Update Friday 19-Mar-2021
Rapid Test Center of New York
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
By Dr. Stuart Weiss, Intelligent Crowd Solutions – Rapid Test Center of NY
March 19, 2021
CoViD-19 News and Information you can trust. Welcome new readers from the Rapid Test Center.
Topics: CDC updates school guidance
| Updated School Guidance Today, the CDC released its long awaited updated guidance for K-12 schools. The updated guidance is based on several previously published studies and three new ones in this week’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The MMWR is a weekly report put out by the CDC which discusses important public health topics. The guidance recognizes the importance of in-person learning for children and the need to reopen schools and keep them open in a way that keeps our children safe. From the new CDC Guidance:The new guidance is based on the evidence that although children can be infected with SARS-CoV-2, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread the virus to others, less than 10% of COVID-19 cases in the United States have been among children and adolescents aged 5–17 years. Compared with adults, children and adolescents who have COVID-19 are more commonly asymptomatic (never develop symptoms) or have mild, non-specific symptoms. Younger children (<10 years of age) may be less likely to be infected than adolescents. Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the proportion among those infected experiencing symptoms both generally increase with age. Based on the data available, in-person learning in schools has not been associated with substantial community transmission. Although national COVID-19 case incidence rates among children and adolescents have risen over time, this trend parallels trends observed among adults. Based on the greater risk of severe illness and death among adults with COVID-19, reasonable concerns have been raised about the occupational risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for teachers and school staff. Evidence suggests that staff-to-staff transmission is more common than transmission from students to staff, staff to student, or student to student. Based on the science, the CDC made the following recommendations to facilitate the reopening of schools: CDC now recommends that with universal masking, students should maintain a distance of at least 3 feet in classroom settings. CDC has updated its operational strategy to say: *In elementary schools, CDC recommends all students remain at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal — regardless of whether community transmission is low, moderate, substantial, or high. *In middle and high schools, CDC also recommends students should be at least 3 feet apart in classrooms where mask use is universal and in communities where transmission is low, moderate, or substantial. *Middle school students and high school students should be at least 6 feet apart in communities where transmission is high, if cohorting is not possible. Cohorting is when groups of students are kept together with the same peers and staff throughout the school day to reduce the risk for spread throughout the school. This recommendation is because COVID-19 transmission dynamics are different in older students – that is, they are more likely to be exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and spread it than younger children. CDC continues to recommend at least 6 feet of distance: *Between adults in the school building and between adults and students. *In common areas, such as school lobbies and auditoriums. *When masks can’t be worn, such as when eating.During activities when increased exhalation occurs, such as singing, shouting, band practice, sports, or exercise. These activities should be moved outdoors or to large, well-ventilated spaces whenever possible. *In community settings outside of the classroom. When you are eligible, get your self vaccinated so we can get through this together. . Dr. Stu Weiss |
| Coronavirus update for March 19, 2021 World Wide Updates Seoul denies mandatory testing for foreign workers is discriminatory, despite concerns Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson announce agreements to deliver 138 million vaccine doses to Brazil UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson receives first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine Germany’s Merkel says she would take AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine US will send around 4 million of its AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine doses to Canada and Mexico WHO committee says there is no evidence AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots Finland pauses AstraZeneca vaccinations for a week South Korean Health Ministry requests Seoul to withdraw mandatory testing of foreigners Denmark says it will provide update on AstraZeneca vaccine pause next week Italy says AstraZeneca pause was a “setback” in its vaccination rollout BioNTech “turning every stone” to scale up Covid-19 vaccine production, co-founder says French Prime Minister to receive AstraZeneca shot Friday Denmark and Sweden join Norway in waiting before restarting AstraZeneca vaccine UK considering “Covid certificates” for attendees of live events Not enough vaccine in Europe to stop third wave, warns German Health Minister Seoul City backs off of mandatory testing for foreigners Germany’s Covid-19 cases rise as country resumes AstraZeneca vaccinations Sao Paulo reports first Covid-19 patient to die while waiting for an ICU bed Coronavirus spread on flight, in hotel corridor, New Zealand study finds China says it has a ‘zero-tolerance policy’ for racism, but discrimination towards Africans goes back decades Parisians flee capital before midnight lockdown Ireland resumes AstraZeneca vaccine rollout Covid deaths in Europe surpass 1 million mark, according to Reuters tally Netherlands records sharpest rise in new cases since beginning of the year Infections in England at lowest level since September Nearly a dozen countries resume use of AstraZeneca vaccine Total Cases Worldwide: 122,712,386 Total Deaths Worldwide: 2,708,050 Total Recovered: 98,927,487 US Updates Biden thanks CDC staff for work fighting Covid-19: “We owe you a gigantic debt of gratitude” CDC’s new school guidance reducing distance relies on masking and other measures, director says UK variant is more deadly and contagious, Fauci says Biden administration surpasses goal of 100 million vaccine doses, Covid response team announces CDC updates physical distancing guidelines for students in schools from 6 feet to 3 People who have been fully vaccinated do not need Covid-19 testing if not showing symptoms, Fauci says FDA and CDC advisers say to expect a lot of questions about AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine Biden says administration is on pace to administer 200 million Covid-19 vaccines by his 100th day in office US Chamber of Commerce praises Biden’s Covid-19 response and warns against tax hikes Chicago surgeons perform first double lung transplant with organs from former COVID patient Low-dose aspirin can reduce the risk of ICU admission and death of Covid-19, researchers say US could be on the cusp of a surge in Covid-19 infections, but vaccinations will limit the damage Covid-19 reinfections are rare, unless you are over 65 Jack in the Box manager stabbed 3 times over mask policy in Houston Schumer says NY to get 1.6 million COVID shots every week thanks to ‘vaccine supercharge’ Zoos vaccinate primates amid fears humans will spread COVID to animals Total US cases: 30,404,708 Total US deaths: 553,294 Total Recovered: 22,582,885 Total Tested in US: 378,137,746 Total cases in CA: 3,635,598 Total deaths in CA: 56,824 Total cases in TX: 2,749,440 Total deaths in TX: 47,257 Total cases in FL: 1,999,257 Total deaths in FL: 32,667 Total cases in NY: 1,818,083 Total deaths in NY: 49,607 Total cases in IL: 1,218,470 Total deaths in IL: 23,304 Total cases in GA: 1,042,417 Total death in GA: 18,464 Total Vaccines Administered in US: 118,313,818 Contact us |
