United States (2019-nCoV)

The B.1.1.7 variant carries a mutation in the S protein (N501Y) that affects the conformation of receptor-binding domain. This variant has 13 other B.1.1.7 lineage-defining mutations (Table), several of which are in the S protein, including a deletion at positions 69 and 70 (del69–70) that evolved spontaneously in other SARS-CoV-2 variants and is hypothesized to increase transmissibility (2,7). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7003e2.htm?s_cid=mm7003e2_w

Two of the three new cases are related to the state’s first confirmed case of the strain sweeping the United Kingdom at a jewelry store in Saratoga County, he said. But the third was discovered on Long Island, he added. https://www.syracuse.com/coronavirus/2021/01/3-more-uk-covid-19-variant-cases-in-ny-as-state-positive-rate-drops-slightly.html?utm_campaign=syracuse_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

47 new cases of B.1.1.7 have been identified, spread across 4 of the 5 states in which we have the statistical power to detect it B.1.1.7 reaffirmed as only a subset of S gene target failure (SGTF) samples B.1.1.7 appears to currently represent 32% of SGTF samples and 0.16% of all positive tests Viral sequencing identified strains carrying the H69/V70 mutation that are not B.1.1.7—these were placed into phylogenetic clades https://blog.helix.com/b117-variant-updated-data/

CDC has updated its map of UK Variant B.1.1.7 case to 63 CA 32 FL 22 CO 3 CT 2 NY 1 GA 1 PA 1 TX 1 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant-cases.html

CDC has interactive map of confirmed COVID variant cases in US, which currently has 52 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/transmission/variant-cases.html

Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine today announced the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 variant, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7, in Pennsylvania. The confirmed case is in Dauphin County. This variant is the same one that was first discovered in England in December. This individual tested positive after known international exposure. https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Health-Details.aspx?newsid=1235

The first known Texas case of the COVID-19 B.1.1.7 variant has been identified in a resident of Harris County. The adult male resident, who has no history of travel, was recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Results of genetic sequencing this week showed that the infection was caused by the variant strain. The case is being investigated by Harris County Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services. https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2021/20210107a.aspx

patients are two individuals between 15-25 who both reside in New Haven County. Both patients had traveled outside Connecticut – one to Ireland and the other to New York State – and developed symptoms of the virus within 3-4 days of their return. https://www.wtnh.com/news/health/coronavirus/gov-lamont-confirms-first-two-cases-of-covid-variant-in-ct/

The new cases of the variant that emerged in the United Kingdom, known as B.1.1.7, bring the region’s total to 32. Sixteen are men and 16 are women. The new total includes 28 cases confirmed by whole genome sequencing and four probable cases that are directly linked to the confirmed cases and have positive diagnostic nucleic acid tests, but are not yet sequenced. https://www.countynewscenter.com/32-covid-19-variant-cases-identified-in-san-diego-county/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=32-covid-19-variant-cases-identified-in-san-diego-county

The Georgia resident is an 18-year-old male with no travel history, and is currently in isolation at home. DPH is working to identify close contacts of the individual and will monitor them closely and test them for the variant https://dph.georgia.gov/press-releases/2021-01-05/first-case-covid-19-variant-identified-georgia

CDC released 29 COVID sequences today identified by S dropout screen. 22 had the two deletions that encode positions 69 and 70 in the Spike protein. 4 of the 22 were UK Variant B.1.1.7 (3 CA and 1 FL).

The three additional cases confirmed Thursday were all men. Case investigators have interviewed two of the three who reported no recent travel outside the country. Two of the three new cases were in their 40s and the third was in his 50s. The third case for whom travel information was not available had not yet been interviewed. https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/health/story/2020-12-31/san-diego-county-ends-2020-with-largest-single-day-covid-19-death-total-of-the-year

The Florida Department of Health announced Thursday night that the first case of the U.K. COVID-19 variant virus has been found in Florida. The infected individual was identified in Martin County as a male in his 20s with no history of travel. https://www.mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2021/01/01/first-case-of-uk-covid-19-variant-identified-in-florida?cid=id-app15_m-share_s-web_cmp-app_launch_august2020_c-producer_posts_po-organic

Both the confirmed case and the suspected instance involve men who had been working at the Good Samaritan Society assisted living facility in Simla, about 45 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, county health director Dwayne Smith told CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/30/health/colorado-uk-coronavirus-variant/index.html

Today, Gov. Polis and state health officials announced Colorado’s first case of the of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7, the same variant discovered in the UK. The Colorado State Laboratory confirmed and notified the Center for Disease Control (CDC) of the case. The individual is a male in his 20s who is currently in isolation in Elbert County and has no travel history. https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/3856-gov-polis-and-state-public-health-officials-announce-first-case-covid-variant-covid-19

CDC Media Telebriefing: Update on COVID-19 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an update to media on the COVID-19 response. Thursday, November 19, 2020, 11:30 a.m. ET

The agency’s new guidelines are wrong, so states have to step up on their own to suppress the coronavirus. By Harold Varmus and Rajiv Shah Harold Varmus is a former director of the National Institutes of Health. Rajiv Shah is the president of the Rockefeller Foundation. Aug. 31, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/opinion/cdc-testing-coronavirus.html

81 American Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine have signed this letter to express their support for former Vice President Joe Biden in the 2020 election for President of the United States. https://nlcampaigns.org/biden_team/Joe_Biden_endorsement.pdf

A clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of adults hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been stopped by the National Institutes of Health. A data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) met late Friday and determined that while there was no harm, the study drug was very unlikely to be beneficial to hospitalized patients with COVID-19. After its fourth interim analysis the DSMB, which regularly monitors the trial, recommended to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of NIH, to stop the study. NHLBI halted the trial immediately. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/n…

Media Advisory For Immediate Release: Friday, June 12, 2020 Contact: Media Relations (404) 639-3286 Telebriefing Audio playstopskip-backwardskip-forwardvolume Volume Range Slider Scrub Range Slider What The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide an update to media on the COVID-19 response. Who Robert Redfield, M.D., CDC Director Jay C. Butler, M.D., CDC’s Deputy Director of Infectious Diseases and COVID-19 Response Incident Manager When 12:00 p.m. ET Friday, June 12, 2020 Dial-In Media: 800-857-9756 International: 1-212-287-18…

Public Attitudes, Behaviors, and Beliefs Related to COVID-19, Stay-at-Home Orders, Nonessential Business Closures, and Public Health Guidance — United States, New York City, and Los Angeles, May 5–12, 2020 Early Release / June 12, 2020 / 69 Mark É. Czeisler1,2; Michael A. Tynan3; Mark E. Howard, MBBS, PhD1,2,4; Sally Honeycutt, MPH3; Erika B. Fulmer, MHA3; Daniel P. Kidder, PhD3; Rebecca Robbins, PhD5,6; Laura K. Barger, PhD5,6; Elise R. Facer-Childs, PhD1; Grant Baldwin, PhD3; Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam, PhD1,5,6; Charles A. Czeisler, MD, PhD5,6 1Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; 2Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia; 3…

Approximately one third of survey respondents engaged in nonrecommended high-risk practices with the intent of preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including using bleach on food products, applying household cleaning and disinfectant products to skin, and inhaling or ingesting cleaners and disinfectants. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6923e2.htm?s_cid=mm6923e2_w

President Trump said at a roundtable Monday that he's been taking the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine and a zinc supplement for "about a week and a half" as a preventative measure against the coronavirus. https://www.axios.com/trump-hydroxychloroquine-e594e81b-c35a-47f8-878d-67f84ce421ea.html?stream=top&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alerts_all

Estimates of excess deaths can provide information about the burden of mortality potentially related to COVID-19, beyond the number of deaths that are directly attributed to COVID-19. Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between observed numbers of deaths and expected numbers. This visualization provides weekly data on excess deaths by jurisdiction of occurrence. Counts of deaths in more recent weeks are compared with historical trends to determine whether the number of deaths is significantly higher than expected. Counts of deaths from all causes are provided, including deaths due to COVID-19. As many deaths due to COVID-19 may be assigned to other cause…

Donald Trump sent 4 page letter to WHO threatening to end funding due to pandemic and treatment of China.