The COVID-19 History Project

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This Day in COVID: August 18, 2020

Details

Explainer: World Health Organization's struggle for a global COVID-19 vaccine plan

Reuters

For-profit nursing homes in Connecticut harder hit by COVID-19, inquiry finds

Reuters

Comparison of molecular testing strategies for COVID-19 control: a mathematical modelling study

The Lancet

UAE sees 'alarming' increase in coronavirus cases

Reuters

Fauci Warns Even the Healthy Can Have Coronavirus Symptoms for Months, As Birx Says Masks Save Lives

Newsweek

Poll: Less than half of Americans say they'll get a coronavirus vaccine

A majority of Democrats say they would get a government-approved vaccine, compared to just 36 percent of Republicans, according to the NBC News|SurveyMonkey Weekly Tracking Poll.

NBC

I witnessed the horror of HIV 30 years ago. Here's how we can conquer a pandemic

The danger and politicization of Covid-19 mirrors the HIV/Aids crisis. But there is hope, writes LGBT organizer Cleve Jones

The Guardian

Coronavirus pandemic baby boom or bust? History and economics offer answers

With so many people forced to spend so much more time at home, you'd be forgiven for thinking Australia is on the cusp of a baby boom. But many experts aren't so sure.

ABC.au

What Parents Need to Know About Learning Pods

New York Times

With rights come responsibilities: how coronavirus is a pandemic of hypocrisy

The Conversation

Nine COVID-19 Myths That Just Won’t Go Away

Scientific American

Like the virus, coronavirus pandemic mental stress hits Latinos more: Study

ABC

American attitudes toward covid-19 are divided by party. The pandemic itself might undo that.

Washington Post

In The Midst Of The Pandemic, Loneliness Has Leveled Out

Scientific American

‘The volume has been turned up on everything’: Pandemic places alarming pressure on transgender mental health

Washington Post

The next pandemic could come from factory farms

Humans have engineered the perfect environment for deadly new germs.

Vox

How The Pandemic Is Making The Gender Pay Gap Worse

In-person service jobs, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, are disproportionately done by women. Yet the unemployment rate is only part of the story.

NPR

Depression doubles during coronavirus pandemic

Figures suggest one in five adults in Britain are experiencing depressive symptoms.

BBC

Pandemic 'ground zero' hosts huge pool party

CNN

Our Mission

The COVID-19 History Project is a curated archive of the events and policy decisions surrounding the emergence of COVID-19.

The pandemic era of 2020-2022 saw massive increases in restrictions on daily life—enforced by the government and by social stigma—accompanied social protests that roiled cities worldwide

In the United States alone, trillions of dollars were spent by the federal government to offset the forced closure of businesses and the devastation of normal life.

The impacts of these policy decisions are still being felt today.

Some would like us to forget the actions and people that played a significant role during the pandemic.

But we of the COVID-19 History Project don't want to forget. Through our work, we hope there will always be an archive to learn from and interpret this fascinating, disturbing, time in world history.

The Timeline

In order to learn from the mistakes of the past, and give COVID-19 decision makers the credit—both good and bad—they deserve, we have compiled a media timeline from every day of the pandemic.

We have endeavored to make the timeline comprehensive without being duplicative, following the major trends as they unfolded.

We provided analyses for each month highlighting major events, but encourage readers to make their own conclusions about these events as well.

This Day in COVID: August 18, 2021

Details

COVID-19 Booster Shots Will Roll Out In September In The U.S.

People will be eligible for a booster shot eight months after their second dose of their vaccines from Pfizer or Moderna, according to U.S. health officials.

NPR

NIH study shows no significant benefit of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 outpatients with early symptoms

Clinical trial results demonstrate COVID-19 convalescent plasma did not prevent disease progression in a high-risk group of outpatients.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)

Pope Francis urges people to get vaccinated against Covid-19 - Vatican News

Pope Francis launches a powerful appeal for people to get vaccinated with approved Covid-19 vaccines, calling it “an act of love.”

Vatican News

What you should know about COVID-19 booster shots and third vaccine doses

Assoc. Prof. Emily Landon answers common questions about additional vaccine doses

University of Chicago News

A simple and fast spectroscopy-based technique for Covid-19 diagnosis - Scientific Reports

Nature

WATCH: Biden administration to require COVID vaccines for nursing home staff

Biden announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

PBS

CBP Seizes Thousands of Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination Cards in Alaska

Securing America's Borders

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (.gov)

U.S. to begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in September

Reuters

Myocarditis after Covid-19 mRNA Vaccination

The New England Journal of Medicine

HIF-1α promotes SARS-CoV-2 infection and aggravates inflammatory responses to COVID-19 - Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

Nature

Antibodies reveal who’s protected by Moderna’s COVID vaccine

Trial results add to growing evidence that low levels of ‘neutralizing’ antibodies are a marker of vulnerability to COVID-19.

Nature

Decades-old SARS virus infection triggers potent response to COVID vaccines

Dramatic antibody production in people infected during the 2002–04 outbreak furthers hopes of a vaccine against many coronaviruses.

Nature

COVID-19: Funding plea to combat Delta variant, call to suspend booster roll-out

During Wednesday’s World Health Organization briefing on COVID-19, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for funding to fight the spread of the deadly Delta variant while also asking wealthy countries to suspend plans to provide booster shots.

UN News

Cardiologist tells of COVID’s heart injuries, implications - UW Medicine | Newsroom

Q&A: A clinician and researcher characterizes SARS-CoV-2's distinct inflammation as "an acceleration of chronic heart disease."

UW Medicine | Newsroom

Longitudinal analysis of antibody decay in convalescent COVID-19 patients - Scientific Reports

Nature

Pope urges world to get vaccinated against coronavirus

Getting the vaccine is ‘an act of love,’ Pope Francis said.

POLITICO.eu

COVID-19: What you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic on 18 August

The World Economic Forum

US health officials call for booster shots against COVID-19

Surging Delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness fades after eight months drive call for boosters.

Al Jazeera

Anthony Rizzo Is Latest Yankee to Test Positive for Coronavirus (Published 2021)

The New York Times

If you live in a state with a low vaccination rate, you’re 4 times more likely to be hospitalized and more than 5 times more likely to die | CNN

CNN

Biden Pushes Mask Mandate as C.D.C. Director Warns of ‘Impending Doom’ (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Quince Orchard puts football on pause after 10 test positive for coronavirus

The Washington Post

How We’re Taking Action Against Vaccine Misinformation Superspreaders | Meta

We've removed over 3,000 accounts, Pages and groups for repeatedly violating our rules against spreading COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation.

Meta

In A Message To Americans, Pope Francis Says Getting Vaccinated Is 'An Act Of Love'

"Vaccination is a simple but profound way of promoting the common good and caring for each other, especially the most vulnerable," Pope Francis said in a message directed particularly at the Americas.

NPR

U.S. to begin offering COVID-19 vaccine booster shots in September

Reuters

TSA extends into January mask rule for airline passengers

The Transportation Security Administration's current order was scheduled to expire Sept. 13.

NBC News

Anti-vaxxers bring chaos to vaccine meeting as they chant ‘Heil Fauci’ and threaten ‘Gates of Hell’ opening

Various anti-vaccine groups came together at San Diego Board of Supervisor Meeting to express discontent about potential vaccine mandates

The Independent

'Heil Fauci!': Vaccine Passports Compared to Nazis in Public Hearing

Newsweek

What impact will the pandemic have on early literacy?

Experts share insights on how parents and teachers can help kids — especially those who may be behind — learn to read as they go back to school.

EdSource

Correctional officers are driving the pandemic in prisons

New research shows correctional officers are vectors of infection, driving COVID-19 rates both inside prisons and in their communities.

The Conversation

We Worked Longer Hours During The Pandemic—Research Says We Need To Work Smarter, Not Harder

The current surge of the Delta variant makes it likely that the factors driving long hours during the pandemic—including remote work, a childcare squeeze, and other caretaking responsibilities—will continue to be with us for some time.

Forbes

Ethnic health care systems strained in Myanmar amid pandemic

AP News

Delta Has Changed the Pandemic Risk Calculus

If you’re confused about what you can do right now, you should be.

The Atlantic

This British woman has spent the entire pandemic in Covid-free Tonga | CNN

CNN

The need for trip insurance amid the pandemic is reshaping the travel landscape

The wisdom of acquiring comprehensive travel insurance with coverage for medical costs associated with Covid-19 is reshaping the travel landscape, insurers say.

CNBC