Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Wednesday 23-December-2020
By Dr. Stuart Weiss, Intelligent Crowd Solutions
Rapid Test Center of New York
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
December 23, 2020
CoViD-19 News and Information you can trust.Welcome new readers from the Rapid Test Center.
Topics: Update on the new SARS-CoV-2 variant and a heartfelt Thank you to all my readers
| Sars-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.7 The new coronavirus variant that is circulating rapidly in South Eastern England is being studied by many groups. Today, a group of scientists in London released a worrying study saying that the new variant is so contagious that new control measures may be necessary and even those may not be enough. They based their finding on some mathematical modeling that they did. They took a look at whether the spread was a result of human activities or changes in the virus. Data from Google indicating movement of individual cellphones showed that people were not behaving any differently than people in other parts of England. They concluded that the virus was 56% more contagious than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Earlier this week, Public Health England had reported the virus was 70% more contagious. With frequent travel between the UK and the US, there is a good chance that this variant is already here in the US however, while there is a robust viral sequencing program in the UK, here in the US, we have almost no program looking at the viral RNA sequences. So we actually have no idea if this variant has come to the US over the two months it has been spreading in the UK. Several scientists have expressed concern about whether the new vaccines will protect against the mutated strain. This new variant has an usually large number of genetic changes in it, 17 unique mutations to be exact. While some of these mutations have been seen in other variants, this combination of changes has not been seen before. We already know that it is more contagious but will vaccines still protect us? Both Pfizer and Moderna are testing their vaccine against the new strain. Based on the new technology used to create these vaccines, it shouldn’t be hard to modify the vaccines to adapt to the new virus. Dr. Ugur Sahin, the CEO of BioNTech, said “We should not forget that we have still the opportunity, if required, to adjust the vaccine exactly to this new virus variant, if this is needed. I don’t think that this is needed. But if it would be needed, there’s a technical possibility to do that.” While this mutation may not make the vaccines totally ineffective, it may reduce the effectiveness somewhat. Vaccines help our bodies create antibodies for large segments of the virus so when small parts changes, antibodies may still bind to other parts but not as effectively. Testing the vaccines is critical to understanding this. There are several mutations that are particularly concerning. The first is the N501Y mutation which causes the virus to bind more tightly to human cells. We have seen this mutation before in a rapidly spreading variant in South Africa. The second is the D614G mutation which makes the virus more transmissible and a third change which is a small deletion called 69-70del helps the virus evade the body’s immune system in some people. This combination of changes is helping the variant adapt to humans better and become the dominant strain in SE England. The good news is that there is no evidence that the virus makes people sicker. Public health measures may be even more important with this new variant. For the moment, keep using good public health practices and keep your distance especially over the holidays. A Heartfelt Thank you As the year winds down, I want to take a moment to offer my sincerest thank you to you, my readers, and my assistant Chinyere Nwaoha, MPH. Let me start with Chinyere. You may not know this but every night when I sit down to write this update, I first look through the headlines that Chinyere has painstakingly gathered together each day. Since the pandemic first started, Chinyere has been combing the news stories and picking out headlines that are important. Every weekday, by 5PM, she sends me the listings which appear on the right side of the page. Thank you Chinyere for all your hard work bringing relevant headlines to our readers. Secondly, I want to thank you, our readers. What started out as a small daily newsletter to our clients, has grown to almost 20,000 daily readers. Some of you have been through the entire pandemic with me and some have joined recently. To all of you, thank you for reading and contributing. I have enjoyed reading your comments, feedback, complaining and rants. I may not have agreed with everything you wrote to me and you certainly did not agree with everything I wrote but we have had a good dialog and for that I thank you. In 2021, I will continue to bring you important updates that you can trust. As some of you know, I am the medical director for the upcoming New Year’s Eve Times Square Ball Drop. This global iconic event is watched by a good percentage of the population of the planet and really signals the start of a new year. We are excited to be part of this and to be helping the world leave 2020 behind us. So when you are home on New Years Eve (as you should be) watching the Ball Drop, know that somewhere in the background, I am running around working to keep the crew and performers safe. Over the next 7 days, you will mostly see just headlines as I will not have much time to write columns. There will not be an update on Christmas Eve, Christmas night, New Years Eve or New Years day night. To you and your families and loved ones, all of my staff at Intelligent Crowd Solutions, Event Medical Services and the Rapid Test Centers of New York wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and new year. Stay safe, we will all get through this together. Be well, Dr. Stu Weiss |
YouTube Channel
| The Doctor Stu YouTube channel is up and running but we haven’t added new videos in a little while. I’ll get back to that after the New Year. Go to www.DoctorStu.org to submit questions. |
| COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY |
| Coronavirus update for December 23, 2020 World Wide Updates New Covid-19 variant reaches Northern Ireland Russia says Argentina is the first country in Latin America to officially register Sputnik V vaccine AstraZeneca submits full vaccine data to UK regulator UK reports two cases of a second Covid-19 variant from South Africa, health secretary says Sweden extends ban on travel from the UK Indian company, The Serum Institute of India (SII), finishes data submission for AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine UK military to support coronavirus testing as business groups warn of food supply issues Switzerland vaccinates first citizen Scotland’s First Minister apologizes after breaching Covid rules Nothing moving at UK port, says French road haulage association Germany will distribute 1.3 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by end of the year Former UK Prime Minister calls for country’s vaccine plan to be “altered” Lufthansa sends special cargo flight to UK with fresh food on board Testing starts for truckers stranded on UK side of English Channel Traveler becomes first to use a digital Covid-19 health certificate to cross an international border Nepal suspends entry for all passengers flying from or transiting through the UK Tokyo Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies will take a “simpler, more restrained approach” UK scientists say new virus strain likely more transmissible and may impact children more than other variants Germany reports highest single-day coronavirus death toll Japan announces tighter controls on travelers from UK but stops short of a ban Argentina authorizes emergency use of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine South Korea suspends flights from UK until end of the year Peru surpasses 1 million Covid-19 cases UK plans mass testing for stranded drivers as French border reopens to those with proof of negative Covid test Covid-19 is now on every continent as Antarctica records its first outbreak UK records highest COVID-19 death toll since the spring Turkey records further 259 deaths Israel confirms four cases of new Covid-19 variant Italy death toll surpasses 70,000 Total Cases Worldwide: 78,920,873 Total Deaths Worldwide: 1,734,675 Total Recovered: 55,462,936 US Updates No evidence new Covid-19 variants have a different impact on people, says Operation Warp Speed official Merck signs $356 million deal to supply US with investigational Covid-19 drug Louisiana congressman-elect transferred to ICU for Covid-19 More than 3,800 people are hospitalized with Covid-19 in New Jersey, governor says More than a million doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the US Florida governor plans to sign executive order to ensure seniors are vaccinated first People traveling to NYC who violate quarantine order could be fined $1,000 for each offense Covid-19 vaccine should protect against the new variants, infectious disease scientist says Tennessee governor extends state of emergency through February 2021 US Covid-19 hospitalizations reach a record high as people continue to travel for the holiday NIH director says he’s “feeling great” after receiving Covid-19 vaccine Trump signaled he may not sign the Covid-19 relief bill New York City reports first serious allergic reaction to Covid-19 vaccine Another 803,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week Incoming CDC director says she plans to go back to holding regular briefings Trump administration will purchase an additional 100 million Pfizer vaccine doses The pandemic is forcing older workers to retire early Republicans taken by surprise at Trump’s refusal to sign Covid relief bill US hits record number of Covid-19 hospitalizations Cuomo considering COVID-19 testing plan to allow fans into Bills playoff games Trump throws Covid relief bill in doubt by asking Congress to amend it Keyontae Johnson, Florida college basketball player who collapsed, diagnosed with heart inflammation, possibly from COVID-19 Man on United flight from Orlando to Los Angeles died of COVID-19, coroner says Nearly 100 COVID-19 cases linked to holiday celebration at North Carolina church Ohio says teachers and school staffers will be in the next round of vaccines Total US cases: 18,841,716 Total US deaths: 333,113 Total Recovered: 11,031,886 Total Tested in US: 233,878,643 Total cases in CA: 1,984,859 Total deaths in CA: 23,352 Total cases in TX: 1,635,987 Total deaths in TX: 26,461 Total cases in FL: 1,234,399 Total deaths in FL: 20,874 Total cases in NY: 918,364 Total deaths in NY: 36,870 Total cases in IL: 918,070 Total deaths in IL: 16,842 |
