September 18, 2020

The CDC reverses its controversial testing guidance, again updating guidelines on testing asymptomatic people after the previous version was found to have been published against scientists’ objections. The New York Times confirms the guidance was inserted by HHS political appointees over career staff objections, an episode that becomes a case study in the politicization of public health. New emails obtained by the Washington Post show Caputo’s team sought to censor what government scientists said about the coronavirus, intensifying concerns that political considerations are shaping the information the public receives. Germany announces it will not buy vaccines through the WHO’s COVAX scheme, dealing a blow to the multilateral distribution effort.

Israel enters its second coronavirus lockdown as the Jewish High Holy Day season begins, European cities announce new restrictions as cases soar, and Ontario and Quebec schools shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks just weeks after reopening. A new study estimates more than a billion school meals were not served to low-income children during the closures between March and May. The Atlantic publishes “How We Survive the Winter,” warning the coming months could be catastrophic but that the U.S. still has ways to prepare—an acknowledgment that the pandemic’s trajectory is more a matter of policy choices than of fate.

Actually, a Chinese virologist didn’t prove that COVID-19 was man-made

This week, Tucker Carlson hosted a Chinese virologist named Dr. Li-Meng Yan on his Fox News show. Yan, who has made regular appearances in conservative media outlets this year, claimed to have &#82…

Baltimore Sun

How Victoria’s Covid lockdown protests are galvanising Australia's right

Liberal MP Craig Kelly and other figures stoking overtly political outrage at the restrictions are finding a thriving audience

The Guardian

A Grassroots Effort to Fight Misinformation during the Pandemic

Scientific American

Coronavirus: New York City delays in-person classes again; Texas starts reopening after summer surge

The coronavirus has infected more than 30.1 million people globally as of Friday, killing at least 946,490 so far.

CNBC

Coronavirus: Wearing glasses can reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, says a new study

An observational study conducted in China suggests that people who wear eyeglasses are shielded against COVID-19, up to a certain degree.

Times of India

An emergency response team for data?

Data science provides a foundation for an important front in the battle against COVID-19. The Harvard Data Science Review, a journal of the Harvard Data Science Initiative, is helping keep data scientists connected and up to date on the latest findings.

Harvard

We just had no answers': COVID-19 'long-haulers' still learning why they're sick

Live Science

COVID-19 likely spreading from people to animals—and vice versa

University of Minnesota

Dr. Fauci: 3 everyday things you can do to help boost your immune system

White House advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci explained basic habits that you can add to your daily routine to optimize your immune function, in an interview with Business Insider. Here are the science-backed strategies he recommends.

CNBC

How We Survive the Winter

The coming months of the pandemic could be catastrophic. The U.S. still has ways to prepare.

The Atlantic

Seeing COVID-19 through a cloud of cigarette smoke

This story is part of The Cancer Letter’s ongoing coverage of COVID-19’s impact on oncology. A full list of our coverage is available here. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic makes it possible to compare and contrast the public health and political responses to previous health crises. The most obvious comparison is to the influenza epidemic of […]

Cancer Letter

Trump’s appointees sought to censor what government scientists said about the coronavirus, emails show

Washington Post

CDC updates, again, guidelines on testing people without coronavirus symptoms

CNN

Push is underway to test COVID-19 vaccines in diverse groups

Companies are struggling to recruit diverse volunteers in final U.S. tests of possible COVID-19 vaccines. New recruitment efforts are gearing up, with the help of trusted voices in hard-hit communities of color, such as Spanish-speaking “health promoters” and Black pastors.

PBS

Pregnant women with coronavirus may experience premature births, CDC says

New research suggests pregnant women with COVID-19 may be at a greater risk of preterm deliveries and even stillbirths.

Today

YouTube video takes Bill Gates out of context on coronavirus vaccinations

According to the internet, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates thinks you don’t have a choice about being

Politifact

Coronavirus can spread on airline flights, two studies show

CNN

Outgoing China ambassador: Trump ‘believed the Chinese’ early in pandemic

The remarks from the Trump appointee and former longtime Iowa governor represent an apparent break with the White House.

Politico

C.D.C. Testing Guidance Was Published Against Scientists’ Objections

New York Times

Yes, you could get the flu and COVID-19, so get a flu shot

Islands Weekly

Germany won't buy vaccines through WHO's COVAX scheme - sources

Reuters

Critical underfunding exacerbated by COVID-19 pushing displaced people to the edge

COVID testing of teachers, staff hotly debated as California schools reopen

As more California public schools reopen, COVID-19 testing remains a contentious issue while the state leaves the big decisions to counties.

Cal Matters

Thank Science for Vaccines – Not Funders, Industries, or Politicians

UCS

Van Morrison to release lockdown protest songs

The musician attacks the government and 'scientists making up crooked facts' in his latest music.

BBC

Israel enters second coronavirus lockdown as Jewish High Holy Day season begins

“They are depressed, they are disappointed,” Rabbi Yuval Cherlow said, adding that he was trying to cheer up his community.

NBC

How The Pandemic Is Widening The Racial Wealth Gap

The coronavirus has affected most Americans, but NPR's latest poll shows Black, Latino and Native American households are hardest hit by the financial impact of the crisis.

NPR

European cities announce new restrictions as COVID-19 cases soar

Reuters

Running on fumes': Amid rising COVID cases, health workers struggle with fatigue, lack of support

Six months into the pandemic, a panel of health professionals talk about spikes in COVID cases, fatigue, and a public growing weary of restrictions.

CBC

Ontario and Quebec schools shut down due to COVID-19 outbreaks

Public health officials in the two provinces were also taking different approaches to the timeline for reopening the schools

The Globe and Mail

More than a billion school meals not served during pandemic: Study

A new study estimates that more than 1.15 billion breakfasts and lunches for low-income children were not served in school as a result of school closures between March 9 and May 1. States and school districts have developed innovative solutions to meet the nutritional needs of low-income children and respond to the rapidly growing food insecurity crisis, yet the number of replacement meals is likely far short of what they provided prior to the pandemic.

Eurekalert

September 18, 2020

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