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Did you know that there have been one million fatalities in the United States due to COVID?

More people in the United States have been killed by the COVID-19 virus than have been killed in vehicle accidents over the last two decades or in all of the country’s conflicts combined.

A white flag with a memorial written on it is one of the thousands of white flags representing Americans who have died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) placed over 20 acres of the National Mall in Washington, September 26, 2021.
Joshua Roberts | Reuters

Because of errors in counting, the actual number is likely definitely more than what was reported. A considerable number of the country’s oldest citizens passed away, accounting for around three quarters of the overall number of fatalities. The death rates of persons of African and Hispanic descent were much higher than those of white people. What was initially a problem in urban areas quickly moved to rural regions and then back again, and this cycle continued until the course of the virus tracked the whole topography of the nation.

At its height, the Covid epidemic was responsible for the deaths of about one New Yorker every two minutes. This equated to over 800 individuals per day, which was five times as high as the city’s average rate of mortality. According to the findings of a research, the almost complete shutdown of public spaces in New York was most likely responsible for a drop in viral transmission of more than 50 percent. The death rate in New York City would never again reach the catastrophic levels it reached during the first wave. Still, the first wave was responsible for a significant amount of damage in a number of places, including Albany, Georgia, Detroit, and New Orleans. She recalls her father pleading with her and urging her not to receive the injection by saying, “Please, kitty.” You have no idea what components make up this item. Epidemiologists believe that the refusal to vaccinate led to the deaths of tens of hundreds of thousands of people.

Today, around one third of individuals living in the United States have not received all of their recommended vaccinations. Since vaccinations were readily accessible, at least 50,000 vaccinated persons have been documented as having died as a result of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has only received data on mortality broken down by vaccination status from roughly half of the states. However, the mortality rate among vaccinated persons has been much lower, but the death rate among unvaccinated people has been at least nine times as probable. She claims that she had started to feel marginalized due to her age and the fact that some of the younger neighbors have refused to wear masks or abstain from huge gatherings. She also attributes this to the fact that she is becoming older.

The Covid-19 epidemic has resulted in a mortality rate that is much greater among persons of advanced age than among younger people. In those under the age of 25, the virus has shown to be less deadly than automobile accidents. In the two years leading up to the pandemic, there was an annual death toll of around 877,000 persons aged 85 and older on average. In the same age group, there were 100,000 additional fatalities per year in the years 2020 and 2021. In every age category, the death rate for persons of African and Hispanic descent has been greater than that of white people.

The racial discrepancy in mortality was most severe in the early stages of the epidemic; nonetheless, disparities still exist today. Rates for Native Americans and Pacific Islanders were less trustworthy as a result of low total numbers, and as a result, they are not displayed. According to the findings of the study, around 79.7 percent of employees in the age range of 20 to 64 who passed away from COVID in 2020 worked in sectors recognized as important. Workers in 11 industries that were not required to remain home due to the COVID outbreak had an approximately twofold increased risk of dying from the disease. Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco carried out the investigation for the paper.

According to the findings of research conducted in the United States, people who do not possess a college degree and those who reside in more impoverished communities have a greater risk of passing away from COVID. In general, the areas with the greatest incomes have reported the fewest fatalities caused by covids, while the areas with the lowest incomes have reported the most. There is a correlation between poorer earnings and a reduced chance of immunization, which in turn is connected with mortality caused by COVID. In the beginning, a startling 43 percent of all deaths attributed to Covid were among people who were either residents or staff members in nursing homes. Leaders in the industry have requested that the federal government make a significant investment to ensure the safety of nursing homes.

The chief medical officer for the American Health Care Association, Dr. David Gifford, expresses pessimism about the industry’s future. What have we done to prevent the next virus from causing the lives of 200,000 people in nursing homes? The fatality rate in the United States caused by the coronavirus, often known as Covid, decreased overall except in the South, where it increased by around 4 percent. Epidemiologists have pointed to responses that were not as harsh, such as lockdowns that were lifted more quickly and masking restrictions that were not enforced as tightly. The state of Mississippi has one of the lowest immunization rates, while having the greatest number of COVID-related deaths of any state.

Here are the symptoms to for in BA.2.12.1 COVID variant

According to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the BA.2.12.1 variation of COVID-19 accounts for around 37% of all new coronavirus cases nationwide.

FILE – Syringes and a vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are displayed at a mass COVID-19 vaccination site in Batavia, Ill., on March 19, 2021.

Health experts predict that the number of people infected with BA.2.12.1 and related strains will continue to rise. CoV-19, the virus that infects people with SARS-CoV-2, is continually evolving and acquiring new mutations as it multiplies. SARS-CoV-2 is predicted to continue evolving in the future. The CDC predicts that some varieties will exist and then vanish, while others will originate, spread, and eventually supplant earlier forms.

An ancestor of BA.2.12.1 is a subvariant of COVID’s omicron strain known as BA.2. Experts predict that BA.2.12.1 will overtake its predecessors as the main strain of COVID-19 over the next few weeks due to its improved capacity to spread. Who knows when the next COVID spike will occur? For Alabama and the South as a whole, this is what one expert thinks will happen. Because of the COVID problems in China, Alabama hospitals are forced to limit medical supplies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitored phone calls to check whether people complied with COVID lockdowns.

In what ways does BA.2.12.1 manifest itself?

BA.2.12.1, like the preceding BA.2 variation, is more likely to cause flu-like symptoms in the upper respiratory tract. Initial COVID-19 symptoms include:

  • Smell and taste are lost
  • Feeling hot or cold
  • Cough
  • Sneezing
  • Shortness of breath or breathing issues
  • Fatigue
  • a sore or aching bodily part
  • Headache
  • A bad case of the hiccups
  • Is your nose running or stuffed up?
  • nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Sneezing, coughing, and a runny nose are the most common symptoms of the omicron variety. Fatigue and dizziness are some side effects of BA.2. COVID and its variations may be reduced by immunization, according to experts. People who have been immunized may have outbreaks of infection, but this is to be anticipated, and staying up to date on recommended vaccinations may help avoid serious disease, hospitalization, and even death. An Omicron variation has emerged that underscores the need of vaccines, the CDC stated.

You might not have known this, but a study called “Landmark” found that people who smoke are more likely to get Alzheimer’s.

The biggest Alzheimer’s study ever finds new genes and pathways involved in disease progression.

silhouette of a person showing internal nervous system and brain on a blue background surrounded by dna

CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

The groundbreaking study’s findings imply physicians can better anticipate whether a patient is genetically prone to Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease affects over 5.8 million Americans. Researchers from France’s Université de Lille performed the study. A genetic risk score may help determine who is most likely to develop Alzheimer’s.

To better understand Alzheimer’s and create medicines that delay or prevent the disease start, the research represents a huge step forward. The next stage is for researchers to concentrate on the study’s risk genes and their influence in brain cell malfunction and death.

Did you know that Pfizer recalls some batches of blood pressure drugs over carcinogen presence?

Pfizer (PFE.N) voluntarily recalled five batches of its Accupril blood pressure pills on Friday after the discovery of high amounts of a possible cancer-causing chemical in the medication.

The manufacturer said that it was unaware of any adverse event reports associated with the recalled batches, which were supplied in the United States and Puerto Rico between December 2019 and April 2022. Pfizer Canada similarly recalled all lots of three Accupril dosages on Thursday after determining that the same contaminant was present at unsafe levels. Pfizer said that there was no immediate danger to patients who were taking the drug that included the chemical, nitrosamine. While nitrosamines are naturally occurring in water and food, prolonged exposure over tolerable levels may raise the risk of cancer. Pfizer also withdrew several batches of another blood pressure medication, Accuretic, and two approved less expensive generic equivalents last month owing to the presence of a probable carcinogen.

Did you know that Omicron BA.2 subvariant will soon dominate in the U.S., but Fauci doesn’t expect another surge?

According to data published this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron’s more contagious subvariant, BA.2, has more than doubled in prevalence in the United States over the last two weeks and now accounts for more than 34% of Covid-19 infections that have undergone genetic sequencing. Since February 5, when it comprised roughly 1% of genetically analyzed viral samples in the United States, BA.2 has been progressively increasing as a fraction of Covid variants circulating in the country. BA.2 probably already accounts for 50% of new infections in the United States since many individuals do tests at home that are not included in official statistics, according to Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. In addition, Walgreens data indicates that BA.2 is the leading variety, accounting for 51% of all positive Covid cases for the week ending March 19.

Reference

Omicron BA.2 subvariant will soon dominate in the U.S., but Fauci doesn’t expect another surge. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/23/covid-omicron-bapoint2-subvariant-will-soon-dominate-in-us-but-fauci-doesnt-expect-another-surge.html?fbclid=IwAR1PtlOWk2ebo9dnBoKtsqyiH_wbf5mMmWMnNjPqt03RYgVyEZ2HCwcjHtY

Did you Know COVID-19 infections are increasing again in Europe?

COVID-19 infections are increasing again in Europe after a decline over the Christmas holiday season, and scientists are warning that another wave might hit the US.

An annotated map showing subvariant distribution in the US as of March 15. CDC/Insider

COVID-19 outbreaks in Europe have historically preceded an increase in cases in the United States, and scientists have speculated that this may be the case here as well. The increase in instances, as seen below, is believed to be the consequence of a combination of the emergence of a more infectious subvariant of Omicron termed BA.2 and the recent easing of COVID-19 limitations in several European nations, according to Eric Topol, a cardiologist, and director of the Scripps Institute, in The Guardian. However, we must exercise caution since we are not yet out of the woods. This virus has not been eradicated, and we must be prepared to cope with it.

Reference

COVID-19 is surging again in Europe thanks to the BA.2 subvariant and will likely spread to the US soon. https://www.businessinsider.com/omicron-europe-surge-ba2-us-wave-likely-coming-2022-3?fbclid=IwAR2iaVekoequ6Rx6blwaEpJXcrExFUS3SKDSDqLpjA3KSwHnjnli4clxYko

Should Individuals Be Worried About Covid — Again?

Covid instances are declining in the United States, and mask restrictions are being removed throughout the country. Despite this, almost a third of the wastewater sampling locations in the United States revealed growing Covid-19 levels in the first ten days of March. So, is Covid on its way out or not?

According to experts, there are many reasons why Americans should not relax their guard just yet. “For some reason, the world has decided Covid is finished — and that really bothers me,” said Akiko Iwasaki, a professor of immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine. “It’s asking for problems to lift all of these regulations so rapidly.”

Reference

Should I Be Worried About Covid — Again?.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-16/is-covid-over-how-to-protect-yourself-post-lockdown?fbclid=IwAR0OyKQnW-DCSR57uqylMsvkVd9Ar-yzyxrU0V8rSeyf1frrFQQ4pl5tgrk

Did you know China’s zero covid wavers as infections spread and complaints about lockdowns surge?

China’s greatest coronavirus epidemic in two years has spread to practically every corner of the nation, straining medical resources, closing companies, and industrial plants, and raising doubts about the government’s steadfast adherence to its zero COVID policy.

On Wednesday, health officials recorded 3,054 domestic coronavirus cases, a decrease from the previous day, when officials reported the country’s highest daily toll since 2020 of 5,154 local infections—still tiny numbers compared to most other big nations, but huge jumps for China.

On Tuesday, there were new coronavirus cases in at least 28 of the country’s 31 provinces and regions. The majority of the cases were caused by the BA.2 variant of the omicron coronavirus.

China is especially susceptible to the rapidly expanding omicron form.

According to a National Health Commission briefing on Tuesday, more than 50 million Chinese citizens over the age of 60 have not been completely immunized. If the epidemic is not contained, China risks becoming like Hong Kong, where more than 4,500 people died as a result of not being adequately vaccinated.

One user tweeted on the microblog Weibo on Monday that their family was detained on a highway for 14 hours attempting to reach the eastern Chinese town of Wuxi due to the abrupt new lockdown measures.

Despite signals of dissent, China has vowed to stick to its zero COVID policy.

Reference

China’s zero covid wavers as infections spread and complaints over lockdowns surge. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/16/china-coronavirus-zero-covid-outbreak/?fbclid=IwAR1W-fAMbWARxZCoXUkm9mJ8z0wh0FiJlsISSyWN0OmZFKMr4I5eF8Fn6uI

Did you know that Pfizer is intending to publish data on the fourth Covid injection in the near future, while also working on a vaccination for all variants?

According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. In addition, Pfizer is preparing to submit data to the FDA for a fourth Covid injection and additional vaccinations. A Covid vaccination has been administered to about 81.4 percent of the US population aged five and above. According to Pfizer’s CEO, the business is developing a vaccine that will protect against all coronavirus types. Pfizer intends to submit data for a fourth Covid injection to the Food and Drug Administration shortly.

The statements came two years after the World Health Organization designated Covid a pandemic. Due to the omicron wave, the number of persons vaccinated against Covidroids in the United States has declined dramatically since peaking in January of this year. Since then, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson have given at least one vaccination dose to 81.4 percent of the American population aged five and above. “I believe the most pressing challenge for all of us is how to keep ahead of the virus,” said Ian Bourla, CEO of Pfizer.

Reference
What’s new in coronavirus: Pfizer is preparing to submit …. https://newyorklatestnews.com/whats-new-in-coronavirus-pfizer-is-preparing-to-submit-data-to-the-fda-about-children-aged-5-11-years/291946/

The extremely infectious omicron variation

BA.2 is a strain of the extremely infectious omicron variation that seems to spread 30 percent more readily than the original. The danger is that dissemination will drastically increase in the not-too-distant future.

Thousands of people test positive for the coronavirus in the U.S. daily, and a small but growing fraction of them are for the more contagious omicron variant BA.2.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

BA.2 has already been discovered from coast to coast, accounting for 3.9 percent of all new infections in the United States. Although BA.2 does not seem to make patients worse than the original omicron, it may result in more severe disease and death if the drop in new cases is slowed. According to a new study, one of the remaining COVID-19 antibody therapies may be less efficient against BA.2. This virus seems to be a little better at avoiding the immune system than the last one. Because the virus is still present, we must take every precaution to safeguard ourselves.

Reference

More contagious version of omicron spreads in U.S., fueling worries.https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/21/1081810074/omicron-ba2-variant-spread?fbclid=IwAR12RMhI8BpQY_BZt4fNkJK5XZcj1SZMTmcM1Eu0iOPjE9G38hN_ohB1mWk