Category: Transmission
Preprint: Characterization of the emerging B.1.621 variant of interest of SARS-CoV-2
In this study, we reported the emergence and spread of the novel B.1.621 lineage of SARS-CoV-2, a new VOI with the insertion 146N and several amino acid substitutions in the Spike protein (T95I,Y144T, Y145S, R346K, E484K, N501Y and P681H). More...
Belgium: 7 fully vaccinated care home residents die after contracting B.1.621 Mu variant first found in Colombia
During the past two weeks, 7 residents of a care home near Zaventem in Belgium have died after having contracted the B.1.621 variant of coronavirus first identified in Colombia, South America. More...
Israel: “85-90% of the hospitalizations are in fully vaccinated people”
Dr Kobi Haviv, Herzog Hospital, Jerusalem: “95% of the severe patients are vaccinated”. More...
Israel: National lockdown if booster jabs don’t work
An official in the high-level coronavirus cabinet, speaking on the condition of anonymity, tells the Kan public broadcaster that the government will wait and see what the effects of the third vaccine booster shot are before declaring a nationwide lockdown. More...
USA, Maryland: “I went to a party with 14 other vaccinated people; 11 of us got COVID”
I’m an epidemiologist at a major medical research university.
Shi Zhengli: We need to learn to live with the virus
Shi Zhengli, China’s ‘Bat Woman’, has said that new variants of Sars-Cov-2 will continue to emerge, but that vaccines are ‘effective’. More...
Bangladesh: the unvaccinated aren’t allowed on the streets
The Bangladeshi government will not allow any unvaccinated people aged 18 or above on the streets from August 11, the day it will relax the ongoing lockdown. More...
Preprint: C.37 Lambda variant exhibits higher infectivity and immune resistance
“In this study, we demonstrated that three mutations, the RSYLTPGD246-253N, L452Q and F490S mutations, respectively confer resistance to the vaccine-induced antiviral immunity. More...
China: Sars-CoV-2 returns to Wuhan
Authorities in the Chinese city of Wuhan will begin testing its entire population, after a handful of positive coronavirus cases were detected there.
USA: Sars-CoV-2 association with PM2.5 particles during wildfire smoke events
We found that a 10 µg/m3 increase in the 7-day average PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 6.3% relative increase in the SARS-CoV-2 test positivity rate, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.5 to 10.3%. More...