FEATURED INSIGHTS
INSIGHTS
UK COVID Variant Now Spreading in US
It has been just three weeks since U.K. health officials announced discovery of a new strain of coronavirus had been detected in Kent and was rapidly spreading northeast toward London. The variant called B.1.1.7 was found to be far more contagious -- as much more as 70%. Almost immediately after it was detected, dozens of nations cut off travel from the U.K. Finally, after many countries had acted, the U.S. last week shut off travel from the U.K, but then quickly reversed its decision with the only requirement that U.S.-bound travelers must have tested negative within three days prior to departure.
California: Critical Condition
More dire COVID numbers were reported Saturday with 16,504 new cases and 96 deaths in Los Angeles. Positivity rate and hospitalizations are both at an all time high. Saturday morning, LA County officials reported there are no more ICU beds for patients requiring critical care, which means those patients are being transported to other triage centers in the state, or makeshift efforts are being constructed to care for those in need. Rationing may well be the next step if conditions worsen…
Feds Obstruct Vaccine Delivery
Pfizer says the administration stopped providing it with destinations for millions of COVID vaccine doses sitting in warehouses. Multiple states, including Virginia, report cuts to promised allotments by up to 50%. This represents an unfathomable level of cruelty and neglect in the midst of America’s worst-ever accumulated mass casualty event. There are only a limited number of possible reasons…
FDA Approves Moderna Vaccine
Approval of Moderna's vaccine late Friday under an Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA ensures millions more doses are now en route to distribution centers across the nation. Planes and trucks filled with Moderna's COVID immunization began journeys to distribution centers in every state Sunday morning. Healthcare supply chain giant McKesson is handling the distribution for Moderna from its centers in Kentucky and Mississippi. Pfizer mostly is utilizing the U.S. Government, predominately through the military, for dissemination. McKesson will utilize FedEx and UPS for delivery of its vaccine. Many of the Moderna shipments are being accompanied by local and state police.
Virginia: The Dr. is Out to Lunch
With these new measures, Northam reveals that he, a doctor who should know better, is simply reacting to events. Early, decisive action with a justifiable basis in epidemiological science would yield better public health outcomes and political results. The Governor would be better served by taking proactive actions and standing firm on the justifiable science with clear and consistent public messaging…
A Guide to Combat COVID-19 Conspiracy Theories
Many of the vaccine conspiracy theories are fueled by a lack of information about vaccine ingredients. This can be countered through a public awareness campaign explaining how the vaccines are made. The following is a survey of common conspiracies related to COVID-19 and the upcoming vaccines and a science-based refutation of the misinformation…
Virginia’s COVID Strategy: D-
Confusion remains over many elements of the problematic orders. However, business organizations' complaining about new limits is not among those 'problematic' issues, as they had disproportionate influence over the state's public health policy all along. The excessive deference Dr. Ralph Northam gave to business interests sacrificed the lives of hundreds of Virginians. Here are the parts that remain problematic:
5 Steps to Survive Until A COVID Vaccine is Available
Public health experts don’t expect a coronavirus vaccine to become widely available until around April 2021. Even once a viable vaccine candidate is approved, the government must manage an unprecedented fill-and-finish campaign and launch PSAs to combat misinformation that could depress vaccination rates. Until such time, society will have to survive through abiding by published health guidance, which we reiterate here:
SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIES FOR COLLEGE REOPENING
Nearly all of America’s colleges are experiencing COVID outbreaks. However, through a combination of science-based health policy and good luck, 35 colleges have not experienced an outbreak. Here are strategies those schools had in common
COVID Infections Hit New Highs
The United States now regularly reports over 100,000 new coronavirus infections daily, and many states are discussing the possibility of new lockdowns. Greece and Britain have already locked down again, while Italy, France, and Germany announced regional lockdowns for areas suffering from severe COVID outbreaks. The U.S. now faces the uncontrolled community spread, and it has made no serious effort to mitigate the virus going into the winter months.
Our New Reality: Unmitigated COVID Spread
The U.S. will soon report 100,000 new cases of coronavirus daily, with that figure rising as long as states keep schools open. Unless the nation takes collective vigilant action, American families are in store for devastation never before experienced in the United States. The White House coronavirus task force is warning states in the middle and western regions that they require aggressive measures to curb the virus’ spread.
Flocking Toward Herd Immunity
Governments are anxious to avoid returning to economically damaging lockdowns and mass quarantines, so getting ready for winter should mean the U.S. works to get COVID infection numbers as low as possible. Instead, it is exploring a dangerous path to herd immunity—unmitigated viral spread that has young, non-disabled workers resuming their daily lives as usual while vulnerable populations continue their isolation
K-12: 60 Days Until Disaster
Reopening K-12 schools is a prerequisite to reopening the economy, as many working adults cannot return to work until their children are back in school being educated by teachers. Schools generally failed to prepare adequately for digital solutions over their summer off. The result is that students mostly receive substandard educational content and inadequate teacher interaction.
COVID Strategy Guide: Analyzing College Reopening Policies
Absent uniform or scientifically-accurate federal standards, American colleges and universities are charting their own courses to varying degrees of success. Those institutions already face known economic pressures and implemented an array of strategies to mitigate the pandemic.
Every sound reopening strategy has four common elements: Widespread testing and contact tracing; Quarantines and social distancing measures; Transparent communication of data/policy; and Innovation