August 31, 2021

As August closes, U.S. infections run near 157,000 a day in what commentators call a fourth wave. Much of the day’s coverage is devoted to defending the vaccines against their own data: The Washington Post invokes Simpson’s paradox to explain why highly vaccinated Israel’s hospitalization figures make the shots look weaker than officials say they are, and Science News publishes charts arguing the vaccines are still doing their job.

The safety file grows heavier abroad. Japan finds black particles in Moderna vials less than a week after suspending more than a million contaminated doses, and Nature reports that rogue self-targeting antibodies may be involved in nearly a fifth of COVID deaths. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf mandates masks in schools and daycares, one more state overriding local choice as the school year opens.

The push to vaccinate widens its targets. Fauci urges pregnant women to get the shot despite their low uptake, and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell funds a vaccine ad in Kentucky. The Guardian reports a Welsh teenager hospitalized with COVID being attacked online after urging young people to get vaccinated, a sign of how bitter the argument had become on all sides.

Microbial signatures in the lower airways of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients associated with poor clinical outcome - Nature Microbiology

Analysis of lower respiratory tract microbiome of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients rules out a role for secondary respiratory infections as drivers of increased mortality.

Nature

Opinion | The Christian persecution complex is becoming a real safety hazard

Nothing in the Bible says you can’t wear a mask. But religious objectors know that.

NBC News

Scuffles break out during school mask meeting in Florida | CNN

CNN

A Pandemic Is Hard Enough. For Some, Being Single Has Made It Harder. (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Coronavirus Briefing: What Happened Today (Published 2021)

The New York Times

Coronavirus update: Fourth wave of infections to carry economic impact

In the United States, infections have increased to a rate of 157,000 per day, with each loss of life and the use of medical resources and foregone activity taking their toll on economic progress.

The Real Economy Blog

Perspective | Coronavirus vaccines work. But this statistical illusion makes people think they don’t.

The Washington Post

Welsh teen in hospital with Covid targeted online by anti-vaxxers

17-year-old accused of being an “actress paid by the government” after urging young people to get vaccinated

The Guardian

These charts show that COVID-19 vaccines are doing their job

COVID-19 shots may not always prevent infections, but for now, they are keeping the vast majority of vaccinated people out of the hospital.

Science News

Trans-ethnic genome-wide association study of severe COVID-19 - Communications Biology

Chaolong Wang and colleagues report a large genome-wide association study for COVID-19 severity in Chinese individuals. By meta-analysis with European data, they identify 3 loci associated with severe disease that suggest key roles for the adaptive immune system and the ABO blood group system in development of severe COVID-19.

Nature

Rogue antibodies involved in almost one-fifth of COVID deaths

The self-targeting antibodies attack type 1 interferons that play a key role in fighting infection.

Nature

COVID-19 in Ecuador has left 6 out of 10 families without access to early childhood services

Unicef

COVID-19 immunization in refugees and migrants: principles and key considerations: interim guidance, 31 August 2021

World Health Organization (WHO)

Genome-wide association study of COVID-19 severity among the Chinese population - Cell Discovery

Nature

India’s Economic Figures Belie Covid-19’s Toll (Published 2021)

The New York Times

COVID-19 boosters in rich nations will delay vaccines for all - Nature Medicine

Nature

Gov. Tom Wolf mandates masks in Pa. schools, daycares

The requirement, which begins Sept. 7, will apply to students, staff, and visitors to public and private K-12 schools, as well as early learning and child care facilities.

Spotlight PA

Native American tribes enforce mask mandates regardless of state bans

As sovereign nations, Indigenous groups are using their authority to make their own rules to protect students and teachers

The Guardian

Do US teens have the right to be vaccinated against their parents’ will? It depends on where they live

Some states have a legal framework allowing “mature minors” to make their own health care decisions – but they apply it in different ways, and some don’t have it at all.

The Conversation

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell makes big Covid vaccine push in new ad

The Senate majority leader, who has not been shy about pushing people to get vaccinated, launched radio ads in Kentucky last month.

NBC News

Small-Business Adaptations That Could Last Post-Pandemic

The adaptations that are most likely to last post-pandemic act like a gateway for business leaders and entrepreneurs to generate leads, target a broader audience and increase their brand visibility.

Forbes

Predicting hosts based on early SARS-CoV-2 samples and analyzing the 2020 pandemic - Scientific Reports

Nature

‘Flatten the curve’ was everywhere, but it didn’t change people’s pandemic attitudes

“Although we didn’t see a difference in people’s ideas or behavioral intentions based on their awareness of the chart,' says researcher Nan Li, 'the message is still beneficial.'

University of Wisconsin–Madison

A woman went to Tonga for the weekend right before the pandemic hit and has been stuck there ever since

The island nation has not experienced any COVID-19 cases so the trapped traveler said she has never worn a mask.

Business Insider

Extreme epidemics are more likely than expected

A statistical analysis of infectious diseases since 1600 shows a 38% probability of witnessing a pandemic as intense as COVID-19 in a lifetime.

Nature

Bucking the Pandemic, Austin Is ‘the Hottest Market in the Country’ (Published 2021)

The New York Times

One Fifth Of Adults Report A Relationship Breakdown During The Pandemic

A study from the University College of London finds over a fifth (22 percent) of adults say they have experienced a complete breakdown of a relationship with either family, friends, colleagues, or a partner in the past year.

Forbes

South Korea proposes record spending to deal with pandemic

President says aggressive fiscal approach must be maintained as coronavirus cases surge

Financial Times

The importance of integrating global health and oral health: what can we learn from the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK? - BDJ Student

Nature

Even In A Pandemic, The NCAA Made It Harder To Cheer On Female Athletes

Capacity for women's championship events was held far below the men's.

ABC News

Japan finds black particles in Moderna vaccine

It comes less than a week after the country suspended more than a million doses due to contamination.

BBC

The prediction and analysis of COVID-19 epidemic trend by combining LSTM and Markov method - Scientific Reports

Nature

Dr. Fauci Urges Pregnant Women to Get Vaccinated

C-SPAN

Where to buy Covid vaccination card holders

Storing your vaccination card in a holder, wallet or wristlet prevents it from getting damaged.

NBC News

Covid-19: Afrika y’Epfo yatoye ubwoko bushasha bwa coronavirus - BBC News Gahuza

Ubu bwoko bumaze kwibonekeza mu ntara nyinshi za Afrika y’Epfo hamwe no mu bindi bihugu indwi vya Afrika, Asia, Ubulaya na Oceania.

BBC

COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Production

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers used state-of-the-art genomic sequencers to quickly sequence the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

National Human Genome Research Institute (.gov)

August 31, 2021

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