California coronavirus updates: Dr. Anthony Fauci to step down as nation’s top infectious disease expert

11:34 a.m.: Dr. Anthony Fauci to step down as nation’s top infectious disease expert

Dr. Antony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, is leaving the federal authorities in December, as reported by the Associated Press.

Fauci grew to become a family title — and the topic of partisan assaults — in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s served the federal government for greater than 5 a long time.

The 81-year-old Fauci is President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser as nicely as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

He was a pacesetter within the federal response to AIDS and different infectious ailments nicely earlier than the coronavirus pandemic.

Fauci informed the Associated Press that strolling away after 54 years was bittersweet.

11:04 a.m.: Pfizer seeks OK for updated COVID-19 booster shot for fall

Pfizer has requested U.S. regulators to authorize its mixture COVID-19 vaccine that provides safety towards the latest omicron relations.

According to the Associated Press, the transfer is a key step towards opening a fall booster marketing campaign.

The Food and Drug Administration ordered vaccine makers to tweak their pictures to goal BA.4 and BA.5 which might be higher than ever at dodging immunity from earlier vaccination or an infection.

If the FDA shortly clears the combo pictures made by Pfizer and its associate BioNTech, boosters may very well be provided inside weeks.

Moderna is predicted to file an analogous software quickly.

4:55 p.m.: Despite struggles, California health officials say COVID helped monkeypox response

California continues to battle in getting sufficient doses of the monkeypox vaccine to healthcare suppliers throughout the state.  

Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon mentioned ideally the state wants between 600,000 and 800,000 doses of the vaccine and is nowhere shut to that as of at present. But he mentioned the state is definitely in higher form for battling this virus due to the final one.

“What I’ve been telling folks is that we’ve been fortunate that we’ve been able to leverage the resources that we have stood up for COVID,” Aragon mentioned. “If COVID had not happened, we would not have all the infrastructure that we have.”

There have been 2,660 confirmed Monkeypox circumstances in California, with 62 individuals hospitalized and 0 deaths.

11:45 a.m.: Bill would require California schools have plans for COVID-19 testing

A bill moving through the California legislature would require faculty districts to give you COVID-19 testing plans in case of constructive circumstances within the classroom.

The measure handed the state Assembly Thursday. Democratic Assembly member Cecilia Aguiar-Curry made the case for its approval:

“Without a plan in place, some school districts leave parents in the dark,” she mentioned. “Parents have a right to know if their children have been exposed to serious disease.”

Plenty of GOP lawmakers voted towards it, together with Rocklin Republican Kevin Kiley.

“This state has had the most onerous school shutdowns and mandates and testing regime of any state in the country, and we have done inestimable harm to our students as a result,” Kiley mentioned.

The invoice requires a last procedural vote within the Senate earlier than going to the governor’s desk.

10:08 a.m.: Health care centers are stretching out monkeypox vaccines to cover low supplies

After a bumpy begin, the Biden administration is making an attempt to clean out the vaccination marketing campaign aimed toward controlling the nation’s rising monkeypox outbreak, according to NPR.

The effort now rests on a brand new and untested technique of dividing up what have been beforehand full doses so as to stretch the restricted stockpile of vaccines within the U.S.

This comes as monkeypox circumstances have climbed nicely above 14,000 within the U.S. — a case depend larger than some other nation on this planet — and but many native well being departments nonetheless report not having sufficient vaccines to attain all those that are thought of excessive threat of contracting the disease.

9:52 a.m.: Biden’s latest bill to avoid a significant increase in health care costs

Millions of individuals within the United States might be spared from massive will increase in well being care prices subsequent yr after President Joe Biden signed laws extending beneficiant subsidies for many who purchase plans by federal and state marketplaces.

As reported by the Associated Press, the local weather, tax and well being care invoice units apart $70 billion over the subsequent three years to maintain out-of-pocket premium prices low for roughly 13 million individuals.

That cash comes simply earlier than the decreased costs have been set to expire in a yr beset by record-high inflation.

The invoice will lengthen subsidies briefly provided final yr in a coronavirus aid invoice that considerably lowered premiums and out-of-pocket prices for purchasers shopping for plans by the Affordable Care Act’s market.

11:45 a.m.: WHO renames monkeypox subvariants away from regional signifiers

The World Health Organization has renamed two monkeypox variants that have been named after international locations and areas so as to align with “current best practices,” NPR reports.

The new names, Clade I and Clade II, substitute the names Congo Basin clade and West African clade, respectively.

Subsequent variants might be named utilizing Roman numerals for the clade and lowercase letters for the subclade.

This comes after calls to rename the poxvirus to something else failed. Critics have referred to as the title “monkeypox” racist and incorrect.

“Monkeypox should be renamed for two major reasons,” mentioned Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor, a world well being equality advocate and senior New Voices fellow on the Aspen Insitute. “First, there’s a long history of referring to Blacks and monkeys. Therefore, ‘monkeypox’ is racist and stigmatizes Blacks.”

“Second, ‘monkeypox’ gives a wrong impression that the disease is only transmitted by monkeys. This is also wrong,” he mentioned.

Despite rising criticism of the title, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses mentioned that even when the title is modified in a yr or two, “monkey” will nonetheless doubtless be a part of any revamped title.

While WHO names ailments, the ICTV determines the formal names of viruses.

11:51 a.m.: First Lady Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19

First Lady Jill Biden has examined constructive for COVID-19 and is experiencing “mild symptoms,” as reported by the Associated Press.

The White House introduced it on Tuesday.

The first woman has been vacationing with President Joe Biden in South Carolina and commenced experiencing signs on Monday. She’s been prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and can isolate on the trip dwelling for at the least 5 days,

Joe Biden examined detrimental for the virus on Tuesday morning however will put on a masks indoors for 10 days in step with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s steerage. The president recovered from a rebound case of the virus on Aug. 7.

The Bidens have been twice-vaccinated and twice-boosted with the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.

11:19 a.m.: EU could soon approve combined COVID-19 vaccine for general population

Germany’s well being minister says European Union drug regulators might authorize the usage of vaccines which might be efficient towards two variants of the coronavirus.

According to the Associated Press, German Health minister Karl Lauterbach mentioned he anticipated the European Medicines Agency to meet on Sept. 1 to contemplate a vaccine that will defend towards the unique virus and the omicron variant.

He says the EU company would doubtless meet once more on Sept. 27 to overview a mixed vaccine towards the unique virus and omicron offshoot, BA.5, which is answerable for the most recent international surge in COVID-19 circumstances.

Germany has procured enough quantities of each vaccines and would give you the option to begin rolling them out a day after they acquired authorization, he mentioned.

10:47 a.m.: CDC drops quarantine, distancing guidelines

The nation’s top public well being company is enjoyable its COVID-19 pointers and dropping the advice that Americans quarantine themselves if they arrive into shut contact with an contaminated particular person.

As reported by the Associated Press, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention additionally mentioned that folks not want to keep at the least 6 toes away from others.

The modifications come greater than 2 ½ years after the beginning of the pandemic. They are pushed by a recognition that an estimated 95% of Americans 16 and older have acquired some degree of immunity, both from being vaccinated or contaminated.

10:33 a.m.: Johnson & Johnson has to trash 400 million COVID-19 vaccines due to quality problems — again

Congressional panel leaders say a further 135 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine from a troubled Baltimore manufacturing facility may have to be destroyed due to high quality issues.

The announcement Thursday follows a May report detailing how greater than 400 million vaccine doses made at Emergent BioSolutions plant would have to be trashed, in accordance to the Associated Press.

The newest spherical of doses slated for destruction have been made between August 2021 and February 2022. Johnson & Johnson says that no doses produced on the web site for the reason that manufacturing facility restarted have reached the market.

10:29 a.m.: LA County moves out of high COVID-19 infection tier

Los Angeles County has dropped out of the excessive COVID-19 neighborhood degree beneath federal pointers, as infections and charges of hospitalizations proceed to fall, in accordance to the Associated Press.

The transfer to the medium tier beneath standards set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention comes two weeks after LA County dropped a plan to impose a brand new masks mandate as the most recent coronavirus surge eased.

LA County well being director Barbara Ferrer mentioned Thursday that the developments are encouraging — however she reminded residents that face overlaying stays an efficient device to cut back unfold.

10:03 a.m.: Polio detected in NYC’s sewer system, indicating spread

Health officers say it’s doable that tons of of individuals in New York state have gotten polio and don’t realize it.

As reported by the Associated Press, the pronouncement got here Friday after they mentioned the virus that causes the possibly lethal disease has been detected in New York City’s wastewater.

Authorities say the presence of the virus in wastewater means that it’s circulating regionally.

They are urging mother and father to get their kids vaccinated.

One particular person suffered paralysis weeks in the past due to a polio an infection north of the town. Most individuals contaminated with polio don’t have any signs however can nonetheless give the virus to others for days or perhaps weeks.

10:59 a.m.: Can the monkeypox outbreak be stopped? Experts believe it’s possible

Since May, barely 90 international locations have reported greater than 31,000 circumstances of monkeypox, as reported by the Associated Press.

The World Health Organization labeled the escalating outbreak of the once-rare disease as a world emergency final month.

The U.S. declared it a nationwide emergency simply final week, however that doesn’t imply the monkeypox is the subsequent international pandemic.

Since it doesn’t unfold as simply as COVID-19, it’s not spreading into each nation. Outside of African nations, 98% of circumstances have been reported in males who’ve intercourse with males.

However, this doesn’t imply it couldn’t unfold to any particular person no matter gender or sexual orientation.

Scientists say stopping the outbreak amongst weak teams might halt the disease’s transmission in Europe and North America.

10:27 a.m.: North Korea blames South Korea for COVID-19 outbreak in their country

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un’s sister says he suffered a fever whereas guiding the nation to victory over the coronavirus.

According to the Associated Press, in a speech earlier than hundreds of North Koreans, she blamed rival South Korea for the nation’s outbreak and vowed “deadly” retaliation.

Kim Yo Jong, a robust official accountable for inter-Korean relations, glorified her brother’s management in the course of the outbreak as he jubilantly described the nation’s extensively disputed success over the virus as an “amazing miracle” in international public well being.

Experts imagine the victory announcement indicators Kim Jong Un’s intention to transfer to different priorities and are involved his sister’s remarks potent a doable nuclear or missile provocation.

11:02 a.m.: COVID-19 deaths fall by 9% globally

The World Health Organization says in its newest weekly pandemic report that the variety of coronavirus deaths fell by 9% within the final week whereas new circumstances remained comparatively steady.

According to the Associated Press, the U.N. well being company mentioned there have been greater than 14,000 COVID-19 deaths final week and almost 7 million new infections.

The Western Pacific reported a 30% bounce in circumstances, whereas Africa reported a 46% drop.

The WHO mentioned that the omicron sub-variant BA.5 stays dominant globally, accounting for almost 70% of all virus sequences shared with the world’s greatest publicly out there virus database.

10:31 a.m.: Pandemic restrictions encourage Chinese residents to take up cycling

Cycling is rising in recognition in China as a sport, not only a means to get to work.

A coronavirus outbreak that shut down indoor sports activities services in Beijing earlier this yr inspired individuals to attempt outside sports activities, together with biking, in accordance to the Associated Press.

Organized rides within the Chinese capital take cyclists to outlying suburbs or metropolis landmarks. The sport’s rising recognition has boosted gross sales of bicycles and indicators rising public consciousness of environmental safety and low-carbon life.

5:55 p.m.: Sacramento declares monkeypox a local public health emergency

The county was notified of its first monkeypox case on May 21. As of Tuesday, the county reports 80 monkeypox cases.

Along with a vaccine, there’s a therapy for monkeypox — a two-week sequence of tablets identified as TPOXX. But it’s at present solely being provided at UC Davis Medical Center and Kaiser. 

Click right here for extra information about monkeypox indicators and signs and the place you will get a vaccine in Sacramento County. 

11:26 a.m.: Incoming college students turn to bridge programs to prepare after COVID-19 disruptions

After the disruption of on-line studying, first-year faculty college students are arriving on campuses unprepared for the calls for of college-level work, consultants say.

The Associated Press experiences that schools from New Jersey to California have expanded summer season bridge packages aiming to get college students up to pace in math and English earlier than they arrive this fall.

Experts say it’s clear that for some, distant instruction prompted studying setbacks, most sharply amongst Black and Hispanic college students.

The stakes are excessive — analysis reveals that college students who begin faculty a step behind are much less doubtless to graduate.

11:10 a.m.: 80,000 tourists stranded at a beach resort town in China due to COVID-19 outbreak

Some 80,000 vacationers are stranded within the southern Chinese Beach resort of Sanya after authorities declared it a COVID-19 scorching spot and imposed a lockdown.

According to the Associated Press, the restrictions got here into power on Saturday morning as authorities sought to stem the unfold of COVID-19 within the metropolis on tropical Hainan Island.

There have been 229 confirmed circumstances on Friday and a further 129 on Saturday.

Railway authorities banned all ticket gross sales and all flights have been additionally canceled. Tourists wanting to depart Sanya have to take a look at detrimental for the coronavirus on 5 PCR checks over seven days.

China sticks steadfastly to a “zero-COVID” strategy. A current outbreak in Shanghai unfold so extensively that authorities locked down all the metropolis for 2 months, trapping tens of millions of individuals.

12:14 p.m.: Flushed with cash from COVID-19 treatments, Pfizer buys another drug maker

Pfizer is shopping for sickle cell drug maker Global Blood Therapeutics in an roughly $5.4 billion deal as it seems to be to speed up development after its income soared in the course of the pandemic, in accordance to the Associated Press.

Pfizer mentioned that its newest acquisition will enhance its work in uncommon hematology.

Global Therapeutics produces Oxybryta tablets for treating sickle cell disease. The pharma large Pfizer has been flush with money since its COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, and therapy, Paxlovid, have hit the market.

It has now introduced offers valued at a complete of almost $19 billion, counting debt, since late final yr.

12:07 p.m.: Texas man sentenced to 25 years in prison for attacking an Asian family over COVID-19

Federal prosecutors say a Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in jail for attacking an Asian household as a result of he thought they have been Chinese and subsequently answerable for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Associated Press experiences that courtroom data present 21-year-old Jose Gomez III of Midland, Texas was sentenced Thursday after pleading responsible to three counts of committing a hate crime.

Gomez admitted that he used a knife to slash the person and his 6-and 2-year-old sons inside a Sam’s Club in Midland as a result of he believed they have been Chinese and spreading the coronavirus.

The man Gomez attacked is from Myanmar.

The March 2020 assault occurred as Asians confronted verbal harassment and bodily assaults throughout the U.S. after the virus started to unfold nationwide.

11:28 a.m.: Spain struggles to limit monkeypox infections

Spain is struggling to curtail Europe’s main monkeypox outbreak for the reason that disease unfold past the continent of Africa.

According to the Associated Press, the southern European nation counts 4,942 circumstances and two males have died from the disease.

Authorities and teams within the LGBTQ neighborhood are honing their campaigns to get vaccines to the neediest members of the demographic thus far.

In the U.S. and Europe, the overwhelming majority of monkeypox infections have occurred in males who’ve intercourse with males.

However, well being consultants warn that if circumstances proceed to rise, they are going to inevitably unfold to different teams, related to HIV/AIDS.

Given the dearth of vaccines, the main focus is now on getting out the message that lowering sexual companions is crucial.

12:03 p.m.: Polio samples found in New York state wastewater

New York state well being officers have issued a extra pressing name for unvaccinated kids and adults to get inoculated towards polio, citing new proof of doable “community spread” of the virus.

According to the Associated Press, well being officers mentioned that the polio virus has now been present in seven completely different wastewater samples in two adjoining counties north of New York City.

So far, just one particular person has examined constructive for polio — an unvaccinated grownup in Rockland County who suffered paralysis.

But based mostly on earlier polio outbreaks, Health Commissioner Mary Bassett mentioned there could also be tons of of different individuals who have been contaminated however don’t have any signs but.

11:32 a.m.: Las Vegas-based rental property management company faces probe over pandemic evictions

A Las Vegas-based company proprietor of hundreds of residential rental properties in a number of U.S. states is investigating whether or not it improperly evicted tenants in the course of the coronavirus pandemic whereas receiving tens of millions of federal {dollars} to maintain individuals of their houses.

The Associated Press experiences probes of the Siegel Group introduced by Nevada state Attorney General Aaron Ford and Clark County officers adopted findings final week by a congressional oversight panel that firm executives used deception, harassment and “potentially unlawful” ways final yr to power tenants out.

Siegel Group says it wasn’t referred to as or interviewed by the U.S. House committee that produced the report. The firm says it operates lawfully.

11:44 a.m.: Federal coronavirus relief funding local tourism projects

Hundreds of tourism tasks nationwide are collectively getting about $2.4 billion in federal coronavirus aid funding, as reported by the Associated Press.

The cash has aided all the things from a fuel station enlargement in California to new sports activities services in Georgia and culturally numerous music in Nashville, Tennessee. Portland, Oregon, has categorized the acquisition of 200 graffiti-resistant trash cans as a tourism challenge.

All the cash comes from the American Rescue Plan, signed by President Joe Biden final yr.

The versatile support program for governments lists tourism as one among its eligible functions, alongside such issues as well being care and housing.

11:03 a.m.: Germany announces COVID-19 measures will remain for fall and winter

The German authorities says primary coronavirus necessities will stay in place in the course of the coming fall and winter when consultants count on COVID-19 circumstances to rise once more as individuals spend extra time indoors.

According to the Associated Press, beneath guidelines lately introduced, face masks and presenting proof of a detrimental coronavirus take a look at might be necessary from October till early April at hospitals, nursing houses and different places with weak individuals.

Passengers on airplanes and making long-distance journeys by practice and bus additionally may have to put on masks throughout that interval, as they do now.

However, Germany’s 16 states have the authority to undertake their very own guidelines. State governments might resolve to require masks and undertake common testing at colleges.

2:46 p.m.: Newsom declares California in state of emergency over monkeypox

Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency to pace efforts to fight the monkeypox outbreak.

It makes California the second state in three days to take the step — almost 800 circumstances have been reported within the state, in accordance to the Associated Press.

Gov. Newsom mentioned his Monday declaration will assist California coordinate a government-wide response. He says the state will proceed to work with the federal authorities to safe extra vaccines, increase consciousness about lowering threat and stand with the LGBTQ neighborhood in combating stigmatization.

The transfer got here after an analogous declaration in New York state on Saturday and in San Francisco on Thursday.

2:37 p.m.: President Biden tests positive for COVID-19 for the second day

President Joe Biden’s “loose cough” has returned as he faces a rebound case of COVID-19, his physician mentioned, although he “continues to feel well.”

According to the Associated Press, White House doctor Kevin O’Connor offered an replace on the president’s situation as he continues to take a look at constructive for the virus.

He mentioned Biden “remains fever-free” and that his temperature, pulse, blood strain, respiratory fee, and oxygen saturation “remain entirely normal.”

Still, Biden is required to stay in isolation by at the least Thursday beneath Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointers — and maybe longer beneath more durable White House protocols if he continues to take a look at constructive.

11:41 a.m.: In the race to acquire monkeypox vaccines, lower-income countries lose

Public well being officers warn that strikes by wealthy international locations to purchase giant portions of monkeypox vaccine might go away tens of millions of individuals in African nations unprotected towards a extra harmful model of the disease.

As reported by the Associated Press, scientists say that, not like campaigns to cease COVID-19, mass vaccinations will not be essential to curb monkeypox outbreaks. Targeted vaccinations and different measures may very well be sufficient to shut down the a number of outbreaks.

Monkeypox is far more durable to unfold than coronavirus, however consultants warn that the necessity for vaccines might intensify if the disease spills over into the overall inhabitants.

Brazil and Spain have simply reported monkeypox deaths, the primary of their nations.

11:38 a.m.: President Biden tests positive again in COVID-19 rebound case

President Joe Biden has examined constructive for COVID-19 for the second straight day, in what seems to be a uncommon case of “rebound” following therapy with an anti-viral drug.

According to the Associated Press, White House Physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor mentioned in a letter that the president “continues to feel well” and can carry on working from the chief residence.

After Biden examined constructive on Sunday, he canceled upcoming plans to journey and maintain in-person occasions. He’s isolating for at the least 5 days per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointers.

The 79-year-old Biden first examined constructive on July 21. He was handled with the anti-viral drug Paxlovid, and he had ended his isolation on Wednesday.

11:27 a.m.: Florida man accused of selling bleach as COVID-19 cure, is arrested abroad

A person accused of promoting a poisonous industrial bleach as a coronavirus treatment by his Florida-based church has been returned to the United States after being arrested in Colombia.

According to the Associated Press, data present 64-year-old Mark Grenon made his preliminary courtroom look Thursday in Miami federal courtroom.

Grenon and his three grownup sons have been indicted final yr on one depend every of conspiracy to commit fraud and two counts every of prison contempt. He is the archbishop of the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing in Bradenton, Florida.

Officials say the church bought chlorine dioxide and claimed the poisonous answer can treatment an enormous number of diseases.