San Francisco’s seven-day test-positivity charge for COVID-19 has climbed to greater than double what it was when it dropped to a low in October following the summer time surge, city data shows. Along with COVID, very excessive ranges of early flu and RSV are inflicting a shortage of hospital medical cribs throughout the nation. Impacts of the pandemic are being cited by the Homeland Safety division in once more extending the deadline for obtaining the Real ID wanted to board a home flight.
Secret Service accuses China-based hackers of stealing tens of millions value of U.S. COVID reduction
Hackers primarily based in China and linked to the Chinese language authorities stole some $20 million in U.S. COVID reduction advantages, together with Small Enterprise Administration loans and unemployment insurance coverage funds, the Secret Service told media organizations this week. The company confirmed an account by NBC News that the theft apparently was by a hacking group often called APT41. It could mark the primary occasion of pandemic fraud tied to overseas, state-sponsored cybercriminals that the U.S. authorities has acknowledged publicly, however could be the tip of the iceberg, based on U.S. legislation enforcement officers and cybersecurity specialists, cited by NBC, which mentioned different investigations of pandemic fraud additionally appeared to level again to overseas state-affiliated hackers. The Secret Service mentioned there are greater than 1,000 ongoing investigations involving transnational and home legal actors defrauding public advantages applications, and APT41 is “a notable participant.”
Stress on California hospitals rivals “a number of the hardest moments of the pandemic”
The variety of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in California is the highest since early August when the state was near the peak of the BA.5 wave. Simply over 4,200 individuals have been hospitalized statewide with COVID-19 as of Monday, together with 701 within the Bay Space, state knowledge exhibits. “Hospital census numbers rival a number of the hardest moments of the pandemic,” the California well being chief Dr. Mark Ghaly, mentioned Tuesday. Noting the a number of threats as a result of variety of viruses in circulation, he urged individuals to benefit from the up to date coronavirus vaccine and obtainable COVID antiviral remedies, reminiscent of Paxlovid, which have considerably pushed down the loss of life charge since final winter. California is averaging about 30 COVID deaths a day, together with 4 within the Bay Space. On the peak of final winter’s surge, greater than 500 individuals have been dying of COVID day by day in California and 60 within the Bay Space.
Coronavirus ranges in sewage are “completely skyrocketing”
Bay Space coronavirus infections once more are spiking, with wastewater monitoring exhibiting this winter is on observe to probably surpass the quantity of people that acquired sick final pandemic winter. “Our wastewater numbers are completely skyrocketing,” Santa Clara County’s well being officer Dr. Sara Cody advised a briefing on Tuesday. Sewage monitoring in Palo Alto exhibits ranges greater than they have been on the top of the omicron surge in January. “We do not forget that the final two winters have been terribly tough. I sadly have to let you know that this winter is shaping as much as be no totally different,” mentioned Cody. She additionally famous, “Folks won’t know they’re contaminated … they usually’re nonetheless going to point out up within the sewer sheds.”
Wastewater elsewhere within the Bay Space additionally has a pointy rise in COVID presence. Dr. Mark Ghaly, the state well being secretary, mentioned Tuesday, “The tendencies we’re seeing now that present will increase, sharp will increase, will proceed.” Sewage monitoring has grow to be an vital device to trace COVID-19’s ranges, more and more so with the rise of dwelling coronavirus assessments that are usually not reported to the federal government and thus don’t present up in case counts. Read more about the latest COVID surge in the Bay Area and California.
Getting COVID-19 well being care a rising drawback for poor, uninsured Individuals
After paying about $25 billion throughout the pandemic to well being care suppliers to vaccinate, check and deal with uninsured Individuals, the federal government is running low on funds for COVID care for the practically 30 million with out insurance coverage, probably leaving them to foot these payments or maybe grow to be discouraged from searching for care altogether, the New York Occasions stories. The Biden administration has been unsuccessful so far in searching for more cash from Congress to replenish its coffers. A request final month for greater than $9 billion in extra pandemic response funding included cash to make sure that Individuals, together with these with out insurance coverage, proceed to have entry to vaccines and coverings. However Republicans in Congress have resisted the White Home’s requests, and accuse the administration of spending pandemic reduction cash in a wasteful method.
Officers warn obtainable pediatric ICU beds have slipped under 12% in elements of California
Hospitals throughout California are racing so as to add pediatric beds as COVID, RSV and escalating flu circumstances ship extra children to hospitals for care — “however the variety of youngsters who want hospitalization is presently outpacing their potential to broaden,” state well being officers mentioned Tuesday. “Hospitals usually have about 35 to 40% open pediatric intensive care unit beds, however that quantity is all the way down to about 20% statewide. It’s even decrease — under 12% — in some areas of the state,” the Division of Public Well being mentioned in a launch. “Statewide flu exercise has reached excessive ranges throughout California, which has the potential so as to add to an already regarding variety of hospitalizations of youngsters,” mentioned the division’s director Dr. Tomás Aragón. “RSV and Flu, and now COVID-19, are on the rise — resulting in the hospitalization of our youngest and most susceptible Californians who want all of us to assist defend them.” Well being officers urge individuals to get flu photographs and up to date coronavirus vaccination and to masks up in indoor public areas assist sluggish illness unfold.
Sacramento faculty district may deliver again masks mandate
Sacramento Metropolis Unified College District is considering bringing back indoor mask mandates as COVID-19 group ranges proceed to push up throughout California. Sacramento County moved from the low tier to medium final week, based on metrics utilized by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. “If we transfer again to that prime group degree, that is the place masking could be required indoors solely in any respect of our faculties and district places,” Victoria Flores, the varsity district’s government director of Scholar Help and Well being Companies, advised KCRA. The district is among the many first within the state to point it would take the step to mitigate virus unfold. Officers in Los Angeles County have even have indicated they’d reinstate an indoor masks mandate if the area flips again into the excessive tier. “I believe we may be distinctive in that call right here in Sacramento Metropolis,” Flores mentioned. “I do know different districts all through the state have had related insurance policies, or county public well being places of work. Right here at Sacramento Metropolis, we have simply achieved all the pieces we will to maintain people wholesome and protected.”
“Ho ho ho” resounding within the mall once more
Shopping-mall Santa Claus is again in full demand after a pandemic dip, and lots of St. Nick performers who stayed dwelling out of well being considerations are again to listen to children’ whispered needs, Fortune stories. One giant Santa company, Cherry Hill Packages, stories being once more at pre-pandemic bookings at greater than 600 malls and different spots. Santa booker HireSanta.com logged 30% improve in demand this Christmas season over final, after dropping about 15% of its performers to retirement or loss of life in the course of the pandemic, mentioned founder Mitch Allen. Most shoppers have moved again to children on laps and aren’t contemplating COVID-19 in a significant manner, Allen mentioned, however Santa can select to masks up. Previous pandemic holiday seasons saw virtual Santa visits or in-person Santas greeting children with some mixture of masks, the outside, boundaries and distance for security. And this 12 months, some are nonetheless at a distance: There are not any lap visits at Macy’s in New York’s Herald Sq. —Santa is seated behind his desk.
L.A. County going through “full-blown” coronavirus surge
Los Angeles County coronavirus circumstances have shot up by 75% over the past week, and well being officers are urging individuals to renew preventative conduct. Hospitals are already below pressure, based on a report from the Los Angeles Times. “Whereas there nonetheless is uncertainty about what the influence of COVID-19 shall be this winter, there may be mounting proof that we’re getting into one other COVID-19 surge,” mentioned L.A. County Public Well being Director Barbara Ferrer. L.A. County reported a seven-day common of three,721 coronavirus circumstances Monday, up from 2,128 the prior week. The county is now recording 258 circumstances every week per 100,000 residents — triple the quantity within the first week of November, based on the Occasions. L.A. County recorded 1,211 new hospital admissions of sufferers with confirmed COVID-19 as of Saturday. There have been 76 virus-related deaths for the week that ended Monday, in comparison with 53 deaths reported within the prior week.
Do U.S. residents nonetheless should quarantine getting into China?
U.S. residents and different overseas guests nonetheless should enter quarantine on getting into China — and typically use location-tracking software program on their telephones — even because the nation eases a few of its stringent restrictions whereas persevering with different “zero-COVID” mandates. The most recent rundown from the U.S. embassy in China states: “All vacationers, together with U.S. residents who enter China, are screened upon arrival and topic to a minimal 10-day quarantine. Whereas restrictions round home journey inside China have eased, native quarantine necessities can differ considerably between cities, and laws can change in a short time. All worldwide arrivals needs to be ready to finish quarantine at a government-selected facility or resort at their very own expense, with no management over the facilities, even when they keep a residence in China.”
“Cities and provinces inside China can also require quarantine for home vacationers, no matter nationality. U.S. residents can also be required to put in and use location-tracking software program on their telephones to entry public areas and companies. Some non-public hospitals might refuse admittance to vacationers who’ve been in the USA 14 days previous to getting into China.”
FDA confirms it pulled drug as a result of it’s not efficient in opposition to BQ and XBB variants
In a memo to Eli Lilly and Firm, the Meals and Drug Administration defined that it pulled its emergency use authorization for bebtelovimab not solely as a result of the monoclonal antibody remedy was prone to be ineffective in opposition to the coronavirus omicron BQ subvariants but additionally as a result of the drug was unlikely to work in opposition to the rising XBB subvariant. Because of particular spike proteins in XBB “it’s anticipated that bebtelovimab is not going to be energetic in opposition to XBB,” the company mentioned in its memo final week to the pharmaceutical firm. It added that presently “all remedy selections are empiric and nationwide and regional epidemiology are vital to information acceptable remedy selections.” On Tuesday, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention up to date its steering for immunocompromised individuals who relied on monoclonal antibodies to counsel they “might profit from a remedy referred to as convalescent plasma.”
COVID pandemic cited in extending deadline for Actual ID
The deadline for obtaining the Real ID needed to board a domestic flight has been extended but once more, to 2025, with the Division of Homeland Safety citing the lingering influence of the COVID-19 pandemic for the slower-than-expected rollout. The deadline to have a Actual ID had been Could 3, 2023, however DHS introduced Monday that it was pushed again two years, to Could 7, 2025. “This extension will give states wanted time to make sure their residents can acquire a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card,” Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas mentioned in a information launch. “DHS can even use this time to implement improvements to make the method extra environment friendly and accessible. We’ll proceed to make sure that the American public can journey safely.” DHS mentioned the pandemic resulted in backlogs at state driver’s license places of work, main many states to routinely lengthen expiration dates on licenses and ID playing cards, reasonably than issuing licenses and playing cards compliant with the Actual ID requirement. Learn the full story on Real ID extension here.
With potential “horrible vacation season,” CDC urges renewed masking
The pinnacle of the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention is looking on Individuals to as soon as once more put on masks in indoor public areas, because the nation contends with a triple menace of COVID-19, flu and RSV. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the agency’s director, told reporters on Monday that on a regular basis precautions are wanted to forestall unfold of viruses as hospitals shortly attain capability. “One needn’t wait on CDC motion with a view to put a masks on,” she mentioned. “We’d encourage all of these preventive measures — hand washing, staying dwelling once you’re sick, masking, elevated air flow — throughout respiratory virus season, however particularly in areas of excessive COVID-19 group ranges.”
After months of decline, COVID circumstances and hospitalizations began ticking up after Thanksgiving. “The rise is particularly worrisome as we transfer into winter months when persons are assembling indoors with much less air flow,” Walensky mentioned, specifying that individuals ought to use high-quality, well-fitting masks. She additionally inspired individuals to get flu and COVID vaccine photographs, noting COVID-19 hospitalizations elevated 27% nationwide for the week ending Dec. 2. “We now face yet one more surge of sickness –another second of overstretched capability, and actually one among tragic and sometimes preventable loss of life,” Walensky mentioned. Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, board chair of the American Medical Affiliation, added throughout Monday’s media name that the respiratory viruses are creating “an ideal storm for a horrible vacation season.” Folks want to guard themselves by being updated on their photographs, she mentioned: “You can get actually, actually sick this 12 months and damage your vacation celebrations in the event you don’t get vaccinated.”
Scarcity of cribs reported as triumvirate of viruses surge
Hospitals nationwide are developing in need of medical-grade cribs as a trio of respiratory viruses — COVID and two others — creates a spike in hospital admissions of youngsters. “It’s been a loopy time over the previous 4-6 weeks and it doesn’t look like calming down anytime quickly,” Marjorie Bryen, president of Arduous Manufacturing — which makes cribs, bassinets, and youth beds for hospitals — mentioned in an email to CNN.
U.S. Well being and Human Companies Secretary Xavier Becerra on Friday encouraged governors to use the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration to take care of the onslaught of seasonal sickness that additionally consists of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and flu. “The Administration has exercised regulatory flexibilities to assist well being care suppliers and suppliers proceed to reply to COVID-19,” he wrote. Those self same flexibilities additionally might help handle most of the challenges within the unfold of non-COVID-19 diseases, together with RSV and flu, his letter mentioned.
With COVID-19 circumstances up and RSV and flu hitting earlier and tougher this 12 months, about three-quarters of pediatric beds within the U.S. now are in use, probably the most at anytime for the reason that begin of the pandemic. “I believe we’re in for a troublesome a number of months,” mentioned Dr. Sarah Combs, an emergency doctor at Kids’s Nationwide Hospital. “We’re seeing excessive numbers of youngsters who’re getting sick, who’re truly needing help to breathe.”
Particular paid COVID sick go away nonetheless obtainable to Californians — however solely till finish of 12 months
Californians have till the tip of the month to get supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave from work. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed laws in September that extended those payments through the end of the year. The laws required California firms with 26 or extra staff to proceed offering as much as 80 hours of extra paid sick go away to staff unable to work due to COVID, and likewise covers sick go away for employees taking day without work to look after contaminated members of the family.
With out the particular COVID go away, state legislation solely requires a minimal of three days of paid sick go away. The additional day without work was meant particularly to supply reduction for workers who can’t afford unpaid day without work and thus face tough selections round whether or not to point out up for work whereas sick, weighing their monetary want in opposition to the chance of endangering themselves and spreading the coronavirus to others.
S.F. test-positive charge surpasses 10%, greater than double October low
San Francisco’s seven-day rolling test-positivity charge, which tracks the proportion of lab check outcomes which might be optimistic for COVID-19, reached 10.5% on Nov. 27, the newest date with confirmed city data. The speed is greater than double the 4.5% it fell to in October following the summer time BA.5 wave. Preliminary knowledge present the speed up till Nov. 30 will attain 12%, with a steep upward trajectory persevering with into this month. Whereas the variety of check outcomes reported to the town is at its lowest level since March 2020, surveys of coronavirus ranges in San Francisco’s wastewater replicate the sharp improve in circulating virus. Viral ranges from samples collected on the Oceanside sewer shed present a 295% improve between Oct. 30 and Nov. 28, and samples from the Southeast plant present a 149% rise in viral materials between Oct. 26 and Nov. 28.
New COVID-19 circumstances in San Francisco are anticipated to point out an 111% improve — to a day by day common of 175 new sufferers — over the previous month. There have been 90 sufferers hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 in San Francisco as of Friday. UCSF’s Dr. Bob Wachter tweeted that the check optimistic charge for asymptomatic COVID-19 circumstances at his hospitals greater than doubled since final month — with a minimum of 1 in 20 individuals who really feel fell prone to be contaminated with the coronavirus.
San Francisco units up shot clinics at faculties as winter surge arrives
San Francisco well being officers this week launched vaccination pop-up clinics at elementary schools to encourage booster photographs because the winter COVID-19 surge takes maintain. The brand new bivalent booster, focusing on each omicron and earlier strains of the coronavirus, shall be obtainable at designated elementary faculties this month together with flu photographs, the Division of Public Well being mentioned. Advance appointments are encouraged. If potential, individuals ought to deliver their COVID-19 vaccine data. Afternoon and night clinics are set for: Tuesday at El Dorado Elementary College, Wednesday at Paul Revere Elementary College, Friday at Bret Harte Elementary College, Dec. 12 at Gordon Lau Elementary College, and Dec. 14 at Rosa Parks Elementary College. Children as much as fifth grade who get photographs can win a $100 present card. Uptake of the most recent COVID booster has been sluggish in California and nationwide, and flu shot numbers are also down.
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