September 26 coronavirus news

Preliminary research indicates less than half of the British public could name the key Covid-19 symptoms and fewer than one in five self-isolated after experiencing symptoms, despite government guidelines.

The pre-print study from King’s College London found that around 70% of people said they “intended to self-isolate if they were to develop key symptoms,” but in fact only 18.2% of those who developed symptoms in the last week actually reported self-isolating. 

The study – which has yet to be published or peer-reviewed – collected data from 30,000 people in the United Kingdom between March and August. It found “just under half of the sample were able to name the key Covid-19 symptoms as being a persistent new onset cough, fever or loss of sense of taste or smell.” 

Released on the university’s website Friday, the findings coincided with the UK reporting its highest single-day infection rise since the pandemic began – with 6,874 new infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 423,326.

“The UK public have good intentions to adhere to a test, trace and isolate system but, when they do develop symptoms, there are a number of factors that affect their decisions and their behaviour,” said James Rubin, an author of the study from King’s College London.

The study indicated “financial constraints and caring responsibilities are common barriers to adherence,” Rubin added.

Men, young people, those with children, key workers, those with lower socio-economic status and those experiencing greater economic hardship during the pandemic were less likely to adhere to protective measures, the research indicated. 

The results suggest adherence could be improved by clearer public health messaging and financial assistance to reduce the pressures of self-isolation, the study’s authors added.

The US could see an explosion of Covid-19 cases as fall and winter set in, one expert says, joining a chorus of health officials who have warned about the challenges of the coming months.

Two things will likely help drive that expected winter surge, according to Dr. Chris Murray, director of the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME).

“First, as case counts have come down in some states, we tend to see that people become less careful, they tend to have more contact,” he said. “But then the most important effect is the seasonality of the virus, that people go indoors, transmission happens more.”

According to the IHME model, the country is seeing about 765 daily deaths from Covid-19, but that number could jump to 3,000 daily deaths by late December.

More than 203,000 Americans have already died from the virus since the start of the pandemic and more than 7 million have been infected, according to Johns Hopkins University. At least 24 states are now reporting a rise in new cases compared to the previous week, mostly across the US heartland and Midwest, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

Murray’s warning is one that’s been given by several other health officials in recent months. Over the summer, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director warned the fall and winter could be “one of the most difficult times that we experienced in American public health.”

And this week, leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci urged American cities and counties to prepare for “the challenge” of fall and winter.

Read more here:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 06: People wear protective face masks near a social distancing sign in Central Park as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on September 6, 2020 in New York City. The fourth phase allows outdoor arts and entertainment, sporting events without fans and media production. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

Related article Experts are warning of a coming surge of Covid-19 cases in US

Since the pandemic officially began in March, we’ve been told staying home is the best way to avoid catching Covid-19. And it is. But life in confinement can cause physical ailments on its own.

Being homebound for so long contorts the body, weakens the heart and lungs and even impairs brain function. The effects of life in isolation may stay with us beyond the pandemic’s end (whenever that may be).

A week homebound, whether you’re working, eating or sleeping, may feel comforting and necessary. But all the inactivity can undo hard-won progress. 

That’s because it can take months to build muscle and just one week to lose it. Humans, for all of our hardiness, also lose muscle more quickly the older we get, said Keith Baar, a professor of molecular exercise physiology at the University of California - Davis. 

When you lose muscle, you’re not necessarily losing bulk, but you are losing strength, which Baar said is one of the “strongest indicators” of how long you’ll live.

“The stronger we stay, the easier it is for us to maintain our longevity.” 

Read the full story here:

Related article This is what happens to your body over months in isolation

Protesters gather in Trafalgar Square for a rally against vaccination and government restrictions designed to fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, in London on September 26.

Police have urged anti-lockdown protesters gathering in central London on Saturday to maintain social distancing and warned that violence towards officers will not be tolerated.

A number of demonstrations are planned, including a large event in Trafalgar Square, a Metropolitan Police news release said. Protesters are expected to move on to Hyde Park.

Commander Ade Adelekan, who is leading the police operation, said officers would continue to take the approach of engaging, explaining and encouraging people to following the regulations.

While it is currently illegal in England for people to gather in groups of more than six, there is an exemption for protests. However, protest organizers must submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing.

According to the Metropolitan Police, some organizers have submitted risk assessments for Saturday’s demonstrations but others have not.

Adelekan urged against a repeat of the hostility police reported at demonstrations last weekend, which he said resulted in injuries to 15 officers and more than 30 arrests.

“Last weekend it was highly disappointing to see that a small minority of demonstrators targeted officers with violence,” he said. “I will not tolerate a repeat of this behaviour this weekend and officers will respond quickly to any scenes of violence.”

London was on Friday added to the national Covid-19 watchlist amid concern over rising coronavirus case numbers.

Performers take part in a traditional dance during the annual Chuseok thanksgiving holiday in Seoul, South Korea on September 24, 2018.

South Koreans should celebrate the upcoming Chuseok holiday remotely, if possible, a senior Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) official said Saturday.

Speaking at a briefing, KDCA vice director Kwon Joon-wook asked people to use private vehicles and minimize the length of time they spend at rest stops if they do visit homes during the holiday, a major harvest festival that runs from September 30 to October 2 this year.

The government on Friday announced strengthened social distancing measures to cover the holiday period.

South Korea reported 61 new daily confirmed cases of coronavirus from Friday, of which 49 were local cases and 12 were imported, according to a KDCA statement Saturday.

The total number of confirmed cases for the country stands at 21,166 and the death toll is 399, as four new deaths were added from the previous day, according to Kwon.

Volunteers place American flags on the Washington National Mall in memory of over 200,000 Americans who have lost their lives to Covid-19 in Washington, DC, on September 22.

At least 7,032,712 people have been infected with coronavirus in the United States, including at least 203,750 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tally.

On Friday, JHU reported 55,054 new US cases and 952 more deaths. 

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

For the latest Johns Hopkins University US numbers, check here. CNN’s map, using JHU data, continues to refresh every 15 mins.

Jenny Mikakos speaks to the media on June 22 in Melbourne.

Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has resigned in the wake of Premier Daniel Andrews’ testimony to the state’s hotel quarantine inquiry, in which he said she was responsible for the bungled scheme that resulted in a devastating second wave of the virus in the state.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Mikakos said she had written to Victoria’s Governor to resign as minister and will also be resigning from Parliament. 

On Friday, Andrews said that Mikakos was responsible for the hotel quarantine program, but said he does know who made the decision to use private security contractors to manage the hotel quarantine system. Mikakos said on Saturday she took responsibility for the department, but said it was not her responsibility alone.

The Board of Inquiry has heard evidence that Victoria’s second wave was started by leaks from the hotel quarantine scheme. Friday was the last day of hearings for Victoria’s inquiry into the failure of the hotel quarantine program. The Board of Inquiry’s final report is due on November 6. 

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci on September 23.

It is unlikely that political interference will play a role in the approval process of a Covid-19 vaccine, Dr. Anthony Fauci, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, said Friday.

Fauci emphasized the role of the Data and Safety Monitoring Board, which will independently review a vaccine for safety and efficacy before it is approved.

Fauci emphasized that the professionals at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are experienced.

This September 2020 photo provided by Johnson & Johnson shows a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine being developed by the company. 

There is some good news on Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine. 

Early results from a Phase 1/2a clinical trial show it was well tolerated and even one dose appeared to produce a strong immune response in almost all of the 800 participants. 

The trial included two age groups: 18- to 55-year-olds and 65 and older, and looked at the safety and side effects of two different doses. Initial findings from the trials suggest the vaccine does provoke an immune response and is safe enough to move into large-scale trials. 

The study was posted on MedRxiv, but it has not been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal yet.

The researchers found that 99% of the participants age 18 to 55 in both dose groups had developed antibodies against the virus 29 days after getting vaccinated. The analysis found that most of the side effects, like fever, headache, fatigue, body aches and injection-site pain, were mild and resolved after a couple of days. 

Some of the participants will be receiving a second shot of the vaccine as part of the trial.

The vaccine – called Ad26.COV2.S – uses the same technology used for Johnson & Johnson’s Ebola, Zika, HIV and RSV vaccines.

Phase 3 trials will examine the safety and effectiveness of a single dose against a placebo to prevent symptomatic Covid-19. Johnson & Johnson says it plans to enroll 60,000 adult volunteers at more than 200 sites in the US and internationally. 

The fact that the trial will examine the efficacy of a single dose of the vaccine, instead of two doses, should expedite results, according to Dr. Paul Stoffels, Johnson & Johnson’s chief scientific officer.

So far, it’s the only Phase 3 Covid-19 vaccine trial in the United States that is testing a single-dose of the vaccine.

The company says stricter vaccine guidelines under consideration by the US Food and Drug Administration might add to the company’s vaccine timeline.

Read the full story here.

In this photo made from UNTV video, Suga Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, speaks in a pre-recorded message which was played during the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, at UN Headquarters.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told the United Nations General Assembly on Friday that Japan is determined to host the Tokyo Olympics next year.

The Games, which were supposed to get underway in July, are now scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8 in 2021 after they were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Tokyo 2020 organizers announced on Friday that they are proposing to cut the number of officials at next year’s Olympics by 10 to 15% as part of a wider package of cost-reduction proposals. Over 50 measures to simplify the Games have been proposed by the IOC’s coordination commission.

Suga also told the UN assembly he is ready to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without any conditions to resolve outstanding issues such as the abductions of Japanese citizens by North Korea and nuclear and missile issues.

“Establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability,” he said.  

In the video message, Suga also said Japan is offering up to $4.5 billion in Covid-19 emergency loans over the course of two years to bolster economic activities in developing countries.