Genomic sequencing can detect and track virus variants, but the United States is sequencing relatively few coronavirus test samples. Lab technicians at Duke University prepared samples for sequencing earlier this month.Credit.Pete Kiehart for The New York Times
As Americans anxiously watch the spread of coronavirus variants that were first identified in Britain and South Africa, scientists are finding a number of new variants that seem to have originated in the United States and many of them may pose the same kind of extra-contagious threat.
In a study posted on Sunday, a team of researchers reported seven growing lineages of the coronavirus, spotted in states across the country. All have gained a mutation at the exact same spot in their genes.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought countries to a standstill. Meanwhile, vaccinations have already started in some countries as cases continue to rise. Follow here for the latest.
California public health officials announced expanded eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine as the state reported nearly 10,000 new cases and 433 new deaths Saturday, according to public health officials.
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While rapid viral protein tests have been criticized for their low sensitivity compared with viral RNA tests, more epidemiologists now believe antigen tests can still be a helpful public health tool as they may indicate who is most contagious at any given moment.
That could have implications for slowing the spread of COVID-19, advocates say. I don t care if someone was infectious 2 weeks ago. I want to know if the person I m testing today needs isolation today, Michael Mina, MD, PhD, of Harvard, said on an episode of
Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction. That s where these tests really shine. They will be positive when somebody is contagious, for the most part.
The U.S. new cases 7-day rolling average are 17.3 % LOWER than the 7-day rolling average one week ago. U.S. hospitalizations due to COVID-19 are now 8.6 %
LOWER than the rolling average one week ago. U.S. deaths due to coronavirus are now 11.8 %
HIGHER than the rolling average one week ago. Today s posts include:
U.S. Coronavirus New Cases are 146,640
U.S. Coronavirus hospitalizations are at an elevated 108,957
U.S. Coronavirus deaths are at an elevated 4,087
U.S. Coronavirus immunizations have been administered to 7.1 % of the population
The 7-day rolling average rate of growth of the pandemic shows new cases worsened, hospitalizations improved, and deaths worsened