Tag: Delta

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic agents and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

SARS-CoV-2 infections have been decelerating at a rapid rate in the United States and many other countries but are increasing rapidly in a handful of countries in Europe and Asia. The outbreak is still caused by variants of concern Omicron BA.1.1, BA.1, BA.2 and to a lesser degree BA.3 (particularly in Poland). Omicron variants are at least four times as infectious as the already highly infectious Delta variants. UK scientists have found that the household secondary attack rate for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.7% with Delta, meaning people infected with Omicron are twice as likely to infect household members as they would be if infected with Delta. They also estimate a “three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.”

I would expect the Omicron variant to continue to mutate just like Delta. There are now already four Omicron variants, BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3. A recombinant isolate of Delta AY.4.2.2 and Omicron BA.1.1 has recently been reported in the UK. We expect to see additional Omicron variants as these isolates spread rapidly around the USA and the World. As of 3/11/21 the Omicron variant, which was first seen in South Africa on 11/08/21, is now in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. As of 3/11/22 Omicron has been identified on all seven continents and in at least 165 countries. 

Omicron has mutations which decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of the new Pfizer drug, PAXLOVIDTM, should not be compromised by any of the current mutations in Omicron or Delta variants. Pfizer completed their filing with the FDA on 11/15/21. The FDA approved PAXLOVIDTM on December 22 , 2021.The FDA approved Merck’s drug Molnupiravir on December 23, 2021. On 12/23/21 CVS announced by fax it was selected by the Government to distribute oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir. On 12/27/21 another fax from CVS listed which CVS pharmacies in California would have these drugs. Monterey County covers 3,771 square miles with a population of 434,061. Three CVS pharmacies in Monterey, Salinas, and Soledad are the only listed pharmacies in our county. I have now been able to obtain PAXLOVIDTM from the CVS in Salinas and on Fremont Boulevard in north Monterey. Fresno County covers 6,011 square miles with a population of 999,101. Four CVS pharmacies in Fresno County are the only listed pharmacies. We obtained PAXLOVIDTM from the Salinas CVS pharmacy and the north Monterey pharmacy and successfully treated four patients in the last four weeks. We have also treated a fifth patient from Turlock with PAXLOVIDTM . We  have also treated two patients with Molnupiravir due to our inability at that time to obtain PAXLOVIDTM . Molnupiravir does not appear to be in short supply in the United States. You can just send your electronic prescription to a participating CVS pharmacy. You probably should call in advance to check on drug availability and their participation.

In the absence of obtaining intravenous Sotrovimab or Bebtelovimab, only oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir are available to treat SARS-CoV-2 as an outpatient. Vaccination will not prevent you from getting an Omicron variant infection. For now only masking (N95 rated masks, please!) and social distancing will have any effect on these variants. Furthermore, we do not believe that a 5-day quarantine or isolation period is sufficient for any COVID-19 infection. The Taiwanese CDC agrees with both our recommendations on quarantine period and masking. In fact, the Taiwanese CDC has recommended N95 masking since the beginning of the pandemic (and made these masks universally available to their population). Taiwan has one of the lowest death rates per million during the course of the pandemic (see graph below). 

In the United States as of 2/25/22, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have decreased for the first time in twelve 14-day periods. There were 2,568 fewer deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In November 2021, SARS-CoV-2 was the third most common cause of death in the United States. 

In the last 14 days, the number of infections has decreased by 44,468 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have decreased for the second time over the last 8 weeks. Unless people get vaccinated, including their third dose of the vaccine, we will see further spread of the Omicron variants and increase in deaths in people who are not vaccinated, have waning immunity, the immunocompromised population and others with risk factors particularly those older than over the age of 64. SARS-CoV-2 is now in the top ten most common causes of death for children. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately.In Monterey County, only 35% of 5-11 year olds have received the first dose of vaccine.

The new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that caused a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 67 days, as of 1/14/22, Omicron has been found on seven continents, in 165 countries and all 50 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron was infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease like PAXLOVIDTM, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. 

Omicron Subvariant BA.2 Is Coming

Per CDC data ending in 3/5/22, the Delta variant accounts for 0.0% of new infections in the United States, while Omicron BA1.1 accounts for 73.7%, Omicron B.1.1.529 accounts for 14.7%, and Omicron subvariant BA.2 accounts for 11.6%. It’s worth noting that in the last 30 days, according to GISAID, the United States has only sequenced 3.042% of cases. 

Omicron subvariant BA.2 has been detected in every region of the United States, and the proportion of BA.2 continues to increase. BA.2 also contains 17 mutations that set it apart from BA.1 (ten of which are also different from those in BA. 3. 

FIGURE 3: Venn diagram showing the similarities and differences between the three Omicron family viruses. ACCESS HEALTH INTERNATIONAL

Nextstrain

On 3/11/22, the United States had 39,254 new infections. There were also 1,022 deaths. Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. In the United States the number of hospitalized patients has been decreasing in many areas, and now 4,604 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 8,981 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has decreased by 4,357 in the last 14 days, while at least 20,844 new deaths occurred (a decrease of 11,267 deaths from the previous 14 days). The number of critically ill patients has decreased for the fourth time in sixteen 14-day periods but a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,489/day). Infections, critically ill patients, and deaths should markedly decrease in the next two weeks if Omicron BA.2 causes less severe disease and does not infect large numbers of previously BA.1 infected patients. However, there are reports out of Israel of patients infected with BA.1 being later reinfected with BA.2. 

As of 3/11/22, we have had 993,044 deaths and 81,154,960 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 622,653 new infections in the last 14 days. We were adding an average of 311,277 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 81.7 infections reported or over 12,236 deaths for each one million infections. As of 3/11/22, thirty-six states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 36 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Fifteen states (North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 68,000 deaths. California and Texas have each had greater than 85,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. On 11/20/21 in North Dakota, 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota, 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 3/11/22, in the United States, 24.09% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 16 months, 21.55% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the last 2 weeks 0.18% of the country became infected. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 16 months, there were 732,913 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For twelve of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these twelve months, 421,947 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Most of the hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 3/11/22, California was ranked 37th in infection percentage at 22.86%. In California 19.16% of Californians were infected in the last 16 months. As of 3/11/22 forty-three states have had greater than 20% of their population infected. Rhode Island was at 33.77% (ranked #1), Alaska was at 32.19% (ranked #2),North Dakota was at 31.38% (ranked #3), Tennessee was at 29.51% (ranked #4), Kentucky was at 29.02% (ranked #5), Utah was at 28.86% (ranked #6) and Florida was at 27.32% (ranked #10) of their population infected. All 50 states and the District of Columbia now have greater than 16% of their population infected. The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi had the sixth highest death rate, Arizona, Alabama and New Jersey have the eighth highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. Louisiana, Arkansas and New York tied at tenth, Massachusetts is at 11th, Florida is at 12th and Rhode Island is at fourteenth. The United States as a whole ranks 18th in the world for deaths per million population (2,971 deaths per million). California ranks 38th in the USA (and 37th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (192), Iceland (229), Japan (204), and Israel (1,111), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,741 per million, compared to 319 per million in Norway and 478 per million in Finland. The United States should have taken a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi4,118  1st6th
New Jersey  3,7254th8th tied
Louisiana3,6337th10th tied 
New York 3,50410th10th tied
Alabama3,8413rd8th tied
Arizona3,8592nd8th tied
Massachusetts3,44611th11th
Rhode Island  3,229  19th14th
Arkansas3,6008th10th tied
Florida3,34518th12th tied
California2,21538th37th
USA2,97118th
Peru6,2651st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  4,8103rd
North Macedonia  4,7395th
Hungary4,6424th
Montenegro4,2856th
Bulgaria5,2582nd
Gibraltar2,99917th
Czechia3,6429th
Brazil3,04315th
San Marino3,28912th
Georgia4,1517th
Sweden1,74157th
Israel1,11184th
Canada96290th
Finland478125th
Norway319141st
Japan204151st
Iceland229147th
South Korea192154th

FDA-Approved Oral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2

Pfizer has developed PAXLOVID™, an oral reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, also called Compound 6 (PF-07321332), is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21. This drug was approved on 12/23/21. We have only been able to obtain PAXLOVID™ for two patients who we successfully treated with this drug obtained from CVS in Salinas (East Alisal Street; phone number 831-424-0026). They were expecting another shipment on 1/28/22. In my opinion, this agent, if more widely available, could markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

Merck has developed the oral drug Molnupiravir, which induces RNA mutagenesis by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. According to Kabinger et al, “Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase uses the active form of Molnupiravir, β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine triphosphate, as a substrate instead of cytidine triphosphate or uridine triphosphate. When the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase uses the resulting RNA as a template, β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine triphosphate directs incorporation of either guanine or adenine, leading to mutated (viral) RNA products. Analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase–RNA complexes that contain mutagenesis products has demonstrated that β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (the active form of Molnupiravir) can form stable base pairs with either guanine or adenine in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase explaining how the polymerase escapes proofreading and synthesizes mutated RNA” (quotation modified for clarity). The results of the phase 3 trial of Molnupiravir were published in the NEJM article “Molnupiravir for Oral Treatment of Covid-19 in Nonhospitalized Patients” by Angélica Jayk Bernal, M.D. et al. (December 16, 2021 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2116044). In this phase 3 study in the Molnupiravir group, 28 patients were hospitalized and one death occurred. In the placebo group, 53 patients were hospitalized and 9 died. Overall, 47% of hospitalizations and deaths were prevented by Molnupiravir. If you do a post hoc analysis and just look at deaths, Molnupiravir would prevent 89% of deaths. An Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for Molnupiravir was approved on 12/24/21.The dose of Molnupiravir approved is four 200 mg capsules orally twice a day for five days. Diarrhea is reportedly a side effect in two percent of patients. I treated my first patient with Molnupiravir on 1/28/22. Currently more Molnupiravir is available weekly in the United States than PAXLOVID™ (see chart below; data from PHE.gov). Locally Molnupiravir is still available at CVS in Monterey (Fremont Blvd.; phone number: 831-375-5135) and CVS in Salinas (East Alisal Street; phone number 831-424-0026). 

Total Doses of All Four COVID-19 Drugs Provided to the United States, by Week

DatePaxlovidMolnupiravirSotrovimabBebtelovimabEvusheld
1/24/22-1/30/2299,980399,98052,260—74,976
1/31/22-2/6/220052,104—74,960
2/7/22-2/13/2299,940399,84052,24848,74549,264
2/14/22-2/20/220052,24948,79549,992
2/21/22-2/27/22148,980349,77652,19449,00049,922
2/28/22-3/6/220046,98651,99049,992
3/7/22-3/13/22175,000174,96052,24249,000199,992

FDA-Approved Intravenous Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for Non-Hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 Patients 

Sotrovimab is a human monoclonal antibody made by Vir Technology and  Glaxo-SmithKline which received a FDA EUA approval on May 26,1921 for intravenous drug treatment for non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. According to the FDA, “The data supporting this EUA for sotrovimab are based on an interim analysis from a phase 1/2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 583 non-hospitalized adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Of these patients, 291 received sotrovimab and 292 received a placebo within five days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The primary endpoint was progression of COVID-19 (defined as hospitalization for greater than 24 hours for acute management of any illness or death from any cause) through day 29. Hospitalization or death occurred in 21 (7%) patients who received placebo compared to 3 (1%) patients treated with sotrovimab, an 85% reduction.” Sotrovimab is given intravenously in a single 500 mg dose. Supplies of this drug are also very limited and currently are only available at hospitals. In order to get this drug, we will probably have to go through the same process outlined below for Evusheld.

Bebtelovimab is a new monoclonal antibody treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. The authorized dose of bebtelovimab is 175 mg, given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for this drug on 2/11/22.

FDA Approved Intramuscular Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 Immunocompromised Patients

Evusheld (from AstraZeneca) contains two human monoclonal antibodies, Tixagevimab (150 mg in 1.5 mL) and Cilgavimab (150 mg in 1.5 mL), in separate vials. According to the manufacturer, “Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab are two recombinant human IgG1κ monoclonal antibodies with amino acid substitutions to extend antibody half-life (YTE), reduce antibody effector function, and minimize the potential risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease (TM). Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab can simultaneously bind to non-overlapping regions of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Tixagevimab, Cilgavimab, and their combination bind to spike protein with equilibrium dissociation constants of KD = 2.76 pM, 13.0 pM and 13.7 pM, respectively, blocking its interaction with human ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, which is required for virus attachment. Tixagevimab, Cilgavimab, and their combination blocked RBD binding to human ACE2 with IC50 values of 0.32 nM (48 ng/mL), 0.53 nM (80 ng/mL), and 0.43 nM (65 ng/mL), respectively.” Each monoclonal antibody is administered intramuscularly to immunocompromised patients in two separate injections every six months. Evusheld availability in California is limited and has been rationed/distributed by our local Public Health Department only to hospitals. Physicians in Monterey County who want to receive a distribution (or redistribution) of Evusheld need to be added to the list of eligible facilities by the State Therapeutics group. The first step is for the Monterey County EMS Agency (phone: 831-755-5713) to make a request to the State Therapeutics group to have the facility added to the system for further verification.  Due to extremely limited availability, evidently the State Therapeutics group is currently only considering additions on a case by case basis.  Physicians who wish to submit their facility for consideration will need to provide the following information to the Monterey County EMS Agency:

  1. Facility/Provider Name for Registration
  2. Provider Type (Hospital, Pharmacy, Etc)
  3. Shipping Address
  4. Contact Name(s)
  5. Contact Email(s)
  6. Contact Phone Number(s)

As for my immunocompromised patients: We provided this information by email to the Monterey County EMS Agency on 1/26/22 and will update you when or if we become an eligible provider and receive our first doses of Evusheld. 

On 2/24/22, the FDA revised its dosing guidance for Evusheld, doubling the dosage of its two components, Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab, from 150 mg each to 300 mg each. They explain, “Based on the most recent information and data available, Evusheld may be less active against certain Omicron subvariants. The dosing regimen was revised because available data indicate that a higher dose of Evusheld may be more likely to prevent infection by the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.1.1 than the originally authorized Evusheld dose.” Patients who have already received their first administration of Evusheld intramuscularly will need to contact their healthcare provider to get a second 150 mg injection of Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab. If you have not received Evusheld yet, the correct dose is 3 mL/300 mg of each monoclonal antibody injected intramuscularly. This large volume necessitates administration of the antibodies in the gluteus, with two separate injections. 

A New Possible Indication for an Older FDA-Approved Antiviral Drug 

Remdesivir was the first FDA-approved Emergency Use Authorization drug for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. In their January 2021 paper in Nature Communications, Kokic et al explained the mechanism of Remdesivir’s action on SARS-CoV-2: “The active form of remdesivir acts as a nucleoside analog and inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir is incorporated by the RdRp into the growing RNA product and allows for addition of three more nucleotides before RNA synthesis stalls. Addition of the fourth nucleotide following Remdesivir incorporation into the RNA product is impaired by a barrier to further RNA translocation. This translocation barrier causes retention of the RNA 3ʹ-nucleotide in the substrate-binding site of the RdRp and interferes with entry of the next nucleoside triphosphate, thereby stalling RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In the structure of the Remdesivir-stalled state, the 3ʹ-nucleotide of the RNA product is matched and located with the template base in the active center, and this may impair proofreading by the viral 3ʹ-exonuclease.” 

A recent study by Gottlieb et al of intravenous Remdesivir to prevent disease progression, whose design was similar to the study designs used for PAXLOVID™ and Molnupiravir, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 1/27/22. The study resulted in an 87% lower risk of hospitalization or death than in the placebo group with a similar adverse events occurrence (42.3% and 46.3% respectively). The FDA may allow approval of outpatient intravenous Remdesivir over three days (200 mg IV on day one followed by 100 mg IV daily on days two and three) in high risk non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

With the exception of Evusheld, all of the therapies listed above can be used in Omicron-infected patients. Other previously approved monoclonal antibodies will not work for Omicron.

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

World Health Organization

According to the UK Health Security Agency Technical Briefing from 2/25/22, “A putative Delta and Omicron recombinant has been identified in the UK, with likely parental lineages AY.4.2.2 and BA.1.1 and a breakpoint in non-structural protein 3 (nsp3). The presence of 34 genomes sampled between 7 January 2022 and 14 February 2022 suggest that this recombinant is able to transmit.” GISAID has also begun publishing data about a recombinant of Delta AY.4 and Omicron BA.1, first identified in France. According to GISAID data, this variant has also been detected in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.

GISAID

Map of Omicron sequenced transmissions:

GISAID

Delta cases sequenced as of 3/13/22: 

GISAID

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

GISAID

Source: GISAID

New recombinant GKA (AY.4/BA.1) cases sequenced as of 3/13/22:

GISAID

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 3/13/22:

GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 3/11/22New Infections on 3/11/22Total DeathsNew Deaths on 3/11/22% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World455,056,951(21,755,564 new infections in 14 days; an increase of 7,152,177 infections from the preceding 14 days).1,694,1006,057,327(100,832 new deaths in last 14 days)6,0205.83%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + BA.2 + BA.3 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo
USA81,154,960
(ranked #1) 622,653 new infections in the last 14 days.		39,254
(ranked #12)		993,044
(ranked #1)20,844 new deaths in the last 14 days. 		1,02224.27%
(0.18% increase in 14 days). 		B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + BA.2 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Brazil29,305,114(ranked #3)  725,872 new infections in the last 14 days. 55,211 (ranked #8)654,612(ranked #2)46513.62%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India42,987,875(ranked #2); increased by 83,131 infections in 2 weeks.3,615515,833(ranked #3)883.06%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
United Kingdom19,530,485(ranked #5; was #6 twenty-six weeks ago; increased by 725,720 infections in 2 weeks.72,828(ranked 4th in the world).161,738 (ranked #7 in world)11428.51%(1.05% increase in the last 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
California, USA9,033,843(ranked #10 in the world;  76,635 new infections in the last 14 days).5,15387,397 (ranked #20 in world)14322.86%(0.23% increase in 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico5,591,871(ranked #19) 118,390 new infections in 14 days).8,098320,607(ranked #5)1974.26%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,691,962(ranked #24; 32,291 new infections in 14 days).1,67199,709 (ranked #18)286.09%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Canada3,275,746(ranked #31, was 26th ten weeks ago; 81,263 new infections in 14 days).6,17536,855(ranked #26)488.76% .B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Poland5,799,996(ranked #17; 162,350 new infections in 14 days). 11,637113,307 (ranked #15)12115.35%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + (South Africa November 2021),Omicron/B.1.1.529 +BA.3 NoNo
Turkey14,513,774(ranked #8, 600,149 new infections in 14 days).25,40196,217 (ranked #19)12316.90% (0.69% of the country was infected in the last 14 days.)B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Russia17,242,043(ranked #6), 1,190,015 new infections in 14 days).50,743359,585(ranked #4 in world)67411.80%; 0.81% of the country was infected in the last 14 days.B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)R1 (Japan) B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Argentina8,887,973(ranked #11; 1,——— new infections in 14 days).5,615127,051 (ranked #13 in world)4219.53% (0.16 % increase in two weeks).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Colombia6,075,656(ranked #14, 16,941 new infections in 14 days).782139,255 (ranked #11 in the world)3511.72%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Peru3,534,687(ranked #29, 109,793 new infections in 14 days). 72,828211,423(ranked #6)5910.47%, a 0.32% increase in 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Indonesia5,5864,010(ranked #15; 359,592 new infections in 14 days)16,110151,703 (ranked #9)2902.10%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)
NoNo
Iran7,117,544 93,640 new infections in last 14 days(ranked 12th; was 12th  twenty-six weeks ago)3,953138,711 (ranked #12)1398.29%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)


NoNo
Spain11,223,974(ranked 10th;   246,450 new infections in 14 days).19,849101,135 (ranked #17)5823.99%, a 0.53% increase in 14 days;  B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
France23,381,279 (ranked #4; 788,170 new infections).72,399140,029 (ranked #10)14935.68%, a 1.20% increase in the last 14 days.Delta/B.1.617.2 (India) Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo
Germany16,881,945(ranked #7)245,342 (ranked #2)125,911 (ranked #14)24220.04%NoNo
Hungary1,814,362 (ranked #43)2,06844,653 (ranked #22)5018.86%NoNo
Romania2,787,625(ranked #37)2,97464,292 (ranked#20)4914.65%NoNo
South Korea5,822,626 (ranked 16th)282,976(ranked #1)9,85522911.34%NoNo
Ukraine4,894,331(ranked #21)5,858106,985 (ranked #16)8611.30%NoNo
Vietnam5,734,428(ranked #18)177,976(ranked #3)41,228 (ranked #24)715.80%NoNo
Netherlands7,055,814 (ranked #13)69,165 (ranked #6)21,688 (ranked #39)1341.02%NoNo
Denmark2,796,420 (ranked #13)13,0365,076 (ranked #85)2747.99%NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

 It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines, SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic agents and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

SARS-CoV-2 infections have been accelerating at a rapid rate in the United States and many other countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. This is caused by the Omicron variant of concern. Omicron is at least four times as infectious as the already highly infectious Delta variants. UK scientists have found that the household secondary attack rate for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.7% with Delta, meaning people infected with Omicron are twice as likely to infect household members as they would be if infected with Delta. They also estimate a “three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.”

I would expect the Omicron variant to continue to mutate just like Delta. There are now already three Omicron variants, BA.1, BA,2. and BA.3. We expect to see additional Omicron variants as this isolate spreads rapidly around the USA and the World. As of 12/22/21 the Omicron variant, which was first seen in South Africa on 11/08/21, is now in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. As of 1/14/22 Omicron has been identified on all seven continents and in at least 146 countries. 

Omicron has mutations which decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of the new Pfizer drug, PAXLOVIDTM, should not be compromised by any of the current mutations in Omicron or Delta variants. Pfizer completed their filing with the FDA on 11/15/21. The FDA approved PAXLOVIDTM on December 22 , 2021.The FDA approved Merck’s drug Molnupiravir on December 23, 2021. On 12/23/21 CVS announced by fax it was selected by the Government to distribute oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir. On 12/27/21 another fax from CVS listed which CVS pharmacies in California would have these drugs. Monterey County covers 3,771 square miles with a population of 434,061. Three CVS pharmacies in Monterey, Salinas, and Soledad are the only listed pharmacies in our county. I have only been able to obtain PAXLOVIDTM from the CVS in Salinas which is awaiting another shipment. Fresno County covers 6,011 square miles with a population of 999,101. Four CVS pharmacies in Fresno County are the only listed pharmacies. We obtained PAXLOVIDTM from the Salinas CVS pharmacy and successfully treated two patients in the last four weeks. Last week we treated a third patient from Turlock with PAXLOVIDTM . Two weeks ago we treated our first patient with Molnupiravir due to our inability at that time to obtain PAXLOVIDTM . Molnupiravir was obtained from the Monterey CVS and does not appear to be in short supply in the United States. You can just send your electronic prescription to a participating CVS pharmacy. You probably should call in advance to check on drug availability and their participation.

In the absence of obtaining intravenous Sotrovimab, only oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir are available to treat SARS-CoV-2 as an outpatient. For now only masking (N95 rated masks, please!), social distancing and vaccination will have any effect on these variants. Furthermore, we do not believe that a 5-day quarantine or isolation period is sufficient for any COVID-19 infection. The Taiwanese CDC agrees with both our recommendations on quarantine period and masking. In fact, the Taiwanese CDC has recommended N95 masking since the beginning of the pandemic (and made these masks universally available to their population). Taiwan has one of the lowest death rates per million during the course of the pandemic (see graph below). 

In the United States as of 2/25/22, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have decreased for the first time in twelve 14-day periods. There were 2,568 fewer deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In November 2021, SARS-CoV-2 was the third most common cause of death in the United States. 

In the last 14 days, the number of infections has decreased by 836,157 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have decreased for the first time over the last 6 weeks. Unless people get vaccinated, including their third dose of the vaccine, we will see further spread of the Omicron variants and increase in deaths in people who are not vaccinated, have waning immunity, the immunocompromised population and others with risk factors particularly those older than over the age of 64. SARS-CoV-2 is now in the top ten most common causes of death for children. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately.In Monterey County, only 35% of 5-11 year olds have received the first dose of vaccine.

The new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that caused a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 67 days, as of 1/14/22, Omicron has been found on seven continents, in 117 countries and all 50 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron was infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease like PAXLOVIDTM, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. 

Omicron Subvariant BA.2 Is Coming

Per CDC data ending in 2/19/22, the Delta variant accounts for 0.0% of new infections in the United States, while Omicron (B.1.1.529/BA.1) accounts for 96.2% and Omicron subvariant BA.2 accounts for 3.8%. It’s worth noting that in the last 30 days, according to GISAID, the United States has only sequenced 1.582% of cases. 

Omicron subvariant BA.2 has been detected in every region of the United States. BA.2 also contains 17 mutations that set it apart from BA.1 (ten of which are also different from those in BA. 3. 

On 2/25/22, the United States had 76,258 new infections with two states not reporting (Iowa and Tennessee). There were also 1,853 deaths with 9 other states not reporting. Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. In the United States the number of hospitalized patients has been decreasing in many areas, and now 8,981 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 16,791 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has decreased by 7,811 in the last 14 days, while at least 32,111 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients has decreased for the third time in fifteen 14-day periods but a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 2,294/day). Infections, critically ill patients, and deaths should markedly decrease in the next two weeks if Omicron BA.2 causes less severe disease and does not infect large numbers of previously BA.1 infected patients. However, there are reports out of Israel of patients infected with BA.1 being later reinfected with BA.2. 

As of 2/24/22, we have had 972,190 deaths and 80,532,307 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 1,303,679 new infections in the last 14 days. We were adding an average of 651,840 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 82.8 infections reported or over 12,072 deaths for each one million infections. As of 2/25/22, thirty-six states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 36 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Fifteen states (North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 65,000 deaths. California and Texas have each had greater than 80,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. On 11/20/21 in North Dakota, 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota, 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 2/25//22, in the United States, 24.09% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 15 months, 21.37% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the last 2 weeks 0.43% of the country became infected. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 15 months, there were 712,069 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For eleven of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these eleven months, 401,103 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Most of the hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 2/11/22, California was ranked 39th in infection percentage at 22.69%. In California 18.99% of Californians were infected in the last 15 months. As of 2/24/22 forty-three states have had greater than 20% of their population infected. Rhode Island was at 33.55% (ranked #1), Alaska was at 31.55% (ranked #2),North Dakota was at 31.20% (ranked #3), Tennessee was at 29.91% (ranked #4), Utah was at 28.75% (ranked #5) and Florida was at 27.21% (ranked #9) of their population infected. All 50 states and the District of Columbia now have greater than 16% of their population infected. The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi, Arizona, Alabama and New Jersey have the eighth highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. Massachusetts, Arkansas and New York tied at tenth, Louisiana is at 11th and Rhode Island and Florida tied at 13th. The United States as a whole ranks 18th in the world for deaths per million population (2,907 deaths per million). California ranks 40th in the USA (and 38th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (152), Iceland (177), Japan (181), and Israel (1,084), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,677 per million, compared to 291 per million in Norway and 426 per million in Finland. The United States should have taken a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi4,035  1st8th tied
New Jersey  3,7174th8th tied
Louisiana3,5725th11th 
New York 3,4828th10th tied
Alabama3,7093rd8th tied
Arizona3,8372nd8th tied
Massachusetts3,39111th10th tied
Rhode Island  3,215  19th13th tied
Arkansas3,4549th10th tied
Florida3,23818th13th tied
California2,15240th38th
USA2,90718th
Peru6,2301st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  4,7463rd
North Macedonia  4,3115th
Hungary4,5284th
Montenegro4,2575th
Bulgaria5,1832nd
Gibraltar2,99914th
Czechia3,5839th
Brazil3,01414th
San Marino3,28912th
Georgia4,0377th
Sweden1,67756th
Israel1,08483rd
Canada95290th
Finland426126th
Norway291139th
Japan181153rd
Iceland177156th
South Korea152161st

FDA-Approved Oral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2

Pfizer has developed PAXLOVID™, an oral reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, also called Compound 6 (PF-07321332), is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21. This drug was approved on 12/23/21. We have only been able to obtain PAXLOVID™ for two patients who we successfully treated with this drug obtained from CVS in Salinas (East Alisal Street; phone number 831-424-0026). They were expecting another shipment on 1/28/22. In my opinion, this agent, if more widely available, could markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

Merck has developed the oral drug Molnupiravir, which induces RNA mutagenesis by viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. According to Kabinger et al, “Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase uses the active form of Molnupiravir, β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine triphosphate, as a substrate instead of cytidine triphosphate or uridine triphosphate. When the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase uses the resulting RNA as a template, β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine triphosphate directs incorporation of either guanine or adenine, leading to mutated (viral) RNA products. Analysis of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase–RNA complexes that contain mutagenesis products has demonstrated that β-D-N4-hydroxycytidine (the active form of Molnupiravir) can form stable base pairs with either guanine or adenine in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase explaining how the polymerase escapes proofreading and synthesizes mutated RNA” (quotation modified for clarity). The results of the phase 3 trial of Molnupiravir were published in the NEJM article “Molnupiravir for Oral Treatment of Covid-19 in Nonhospitalized Patients” by Angélica Jayk Bernal, M.D. et al. (December 16, 2021 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2116044). In this phase 3 study in the Molnupiravir group, 28 patients were hospitalized and one death occurred. In the placebo group, 53 patients were hospitalized and 9 died. Overall, 47% of hospitalizations and deaths were prevented by Molnupiravir. If you do a post hoc analysis and just look at deaths, Molnupiravir would prevent 89% of deaths. An Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA for Molnupiravir was approved on 12/24/21.The dose of Molnupiravir approved is four 200 mg capsules orally twice a day for five days. Diarrhea is reportedly a side effect in two percent of patients. I treated my first patient with Molnupiravir on 1/28/22. Currently more Molnupiravir is available weekly in the United States than PAXLOVID™ (see chart below; data from PHE.gov). Locally Molnupiravir is still available at CVS in Monterey (Fremont Blvd.; phone number: 831-375-5135) and CVS in Salinas (East Alisal Street; phone number 831-424-0026). 

Total Doses of All Four COVID-19 Drugs Provided to the United States, by Week

DatePaxlovidMolnupiravirSotrovimabBebtelovimabEvusheld
1/24/22-1/30/2299,980399,98052,260—74,976
1/31/22-2/6/220052,104—74,960
2/7/22-2/13/2299,940399,84052,24848,74549,264
2/14/22-2/20/220052,24948,79549,992
2/21/22-2/27/22148,980349,77652,19449,922

FDA-Approved Intravenous Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for Non-Hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 Patients 

Sotrovimab is a human monoclonal antibody made by Vir Technology and  Glaxo-SmithKline which received a FDA EUA approval on May 26,1921 for intravenous drug treatment for non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. According to the FDA, “The data supporting this EUA for sotrovimab are based on an interim analysis from a phase 1/2/3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 583 non-hospitalized adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms and a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Of these patients, 291 received sotrovimab and 292 received a placebo within five days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The primary endpoint was progression of COVID-19 (defined as hospitalization for greater than 24 hours for acute management of any illness or death from any cause) through day 29. Hospitalization or death occurred in 21 (7%) patients who received placebo compared to 3 (1%) patients treated with sotrovimab, an 85% reduction.” Sotrovimab is given intravenously in a single 500 mg dose. Supplies of this drug are also very limited and currently are only available at hospitals. In order to get this drug, we will probably have to go through the same process outlined below for Evusheld.

Bebtelovimab is a new monoclonal antibody treatment for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, and for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options approved or authorized by FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate. The authorized dose of Bebtelovimab is 175 mg, given as an intravenous injection over at least 30 seconds. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for this drug on 2/11/22.

FDA Approved Intramuscular Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 Immunocompromised Patients

Evusheld (from AstraZeneca) contains two human monoclonal antibodies, Tixagevimab (150 mg in 1.5 mL) and Cilgavimab (150 mg in 1.5 mL), in separate vials. According to the manufacturer, “Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab are two recombinant human IgG1κ monoclonal antibodies with amino acid substitutions to extend antibody half-life (YTE), reduce antibody effector function, and minimize the potential risk of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease (TM). Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab can simultaneously bind to non-overlapping regions of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Tixagevimab, Cilgavimab, and their combination bind to spike protein with equilibrium dissociation constants of KD = 2.76 pM, 13.0 pM and 13.7 pM, respectively, blocking its interaction with human ACE2, the SARS-CoV-2 receptor, which is required for virus attachment. Tixagevimab, Cilgavimab, and their combination blocked RBD binding to human ACE2 with IC50 values of 0.32 nM (48 ng/mL), 0.53 nM (80 ng/mL), and 0.43 nM (65 ng/mL), respectively.” Each monoclonal antibody is administered intramuscularly to immunocompromised patients in two separate injections every six months. Evusheld availability in California is limited and has been rationed/distributed by our local Public Health Department only to hospitals. Physicians in Monterey County who want to receive a distribution (or redistribution) of Evusheld need to be added to the list of eligible facilities by the State Therapeutics group. The first step is for the Monterey County EMS Agency (phone: 831-755-5713) to make a request to the State Therapeutics group to have the facility added to the system for further verification.  Due to extremely limited availability, evidently the State Therapeutics group is currently only considering additions on a case by case basis.  Physicians who wish to submit their facility for consideration will need to provide the following information to the Monterey County EMS Agency:

  1. Facility/Provider Name for Registration
  2. Provider Type (Hospital, Pharmacy, Etc)
  3. Shipping Address
  4. Contact Name(s)
  5. Contact Email(s)
  6. Contact Phone Number(s)

As for my immunocompromised patients: We provided this information by email to the Monterey County EMS Agency on 1/26/22 and will update you when or if we become an eligible provider and receive our first doses of Evusheld. 

On 2/24/22, the FDA revised its dosing guidance for Evusheld, doubling the dosage of its two components, Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab, from 150 mg each to 300 mg each. They explain, “Based on the most recent information and data available, Evusheld may be less active against certain Omicron subvariants. The dosing regimen was revised because available data indicate that a higher dose of Evusheld may be more likely to prevent infection by the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.1.1 than the originally authorized Evusheld dose.” Patients who have already received their first administration of Evusheld intramuscularly will need to contact their healthcare provider to get a second 150 mg injection of Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab. If you have not received Evusheld yet, the correct dose is 3 mL/300 mg of each monoclonal antibody injected intramuscularly. This large volume necessitates administration of the antibodies in the gluteus, with two separate injections. 

A New Possible Indication for an Older FDA-Approved Antiviral Drug 

Remdesivir was the first FDA-approved Emergency Use Authorization drug for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. In their January 2021 paper in Nature Communications, Kokic et al explained the mechanism of Remdesivir’s action on SARS-CoV-2: “The active form of remdesivir acts as a nucleoside analog and inhibits the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir is incorporated by the RdRp into the growing RNA product and allows for addition of three more nucleotides before RNA synthesis stalls. Addition of the fourth nucleotide following Remdesivir incorporation into the RNA product is impaired by a barrier to further RNA translocation. This translocation barrier causes retention of the RNA 3ʹ-nucleotide in the substrate-binding site of the RdRp and interferes with entry of the next nucleoside triphosphate, thereby stalling RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. In the structure of the Remdesivir-stalled state, the 3ʹ-nucleotide of the RNA product is matched and located with the template base in the active center, and this may impair proofreading by the viral 3ʹ-exonuclease.” 

A recent study by Gottlieb et al of intravenous Remdesivir to prevent disease progression, whose design was similar to the study designs used for PAXLOVID™ and Molnupiravir, was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on 1/27/22. The study resulted in an 87% lower risk of hospitalization or death than in the placebo group with a similar adverse events occurrence (42.3% and 46.3% respectively). The FDA may allow approval of outpatient intravenous Remdesivir over three days (200 mg IV on day one followed by 100 mg IV daily on days two and three) in high risk non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

With the exception of Evusheld, all of the therapies listed above can be used in Omicron-infected patients. Other previously approved monoclonal antibodies will not work for Omicron.

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

Source: World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

According to the UK Health Security Agency Technical Briefing from 2/25/22, “A putative Delta and Omicron recombinant has been identified in the UK, with likely parental lineages AY.4.2.2 and BA.1.1 and a breakpoint in non-structural protein 3 (nsp3). The presence of 34 genomes sampled between 7 January 2022 and 14 February 2022 suggest that this recombinant is able to transmit.” We will need to monitor for this Delta-Omicron recombinant variant in the United States as well. 

Omicron cases sequenced as of 2/27/22:

Map of Omicron sequenced transmissions:

Delta cases sequenced as of 2/27/22: 

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 2/27/22:

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 2/25/22New Infections on 2/25//22Total DeathsNew Deaths on 2/25/22% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World433,301,387(14,603,060 new infections in 14 days).1,614,4345,956,495(136,430 new deaths in last 14 days)8,5035.55%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + BA.2 + BA.3 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo
USA80,532,307*
(ranked #1) 1,303.679 new infections in the last 14 days.
*JHU reported 77,683,119 infections		76,258
(ranked #6)		972,200**
(ranked #1)68,003 new deaths in the last 14 days.
** JHU reported 918,924 deaths. 		1,85324.09%
(0.43% increase in 14 days). 		B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + BA.2 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Brazil28,679242(ranked #3)  1,378,727 infections. 89,247 (ranked #4)648,160(ranked #2)67413.33%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India42,904,744(ranked #2); increased by 318,116 infections in 2 weeks.10,399513,512(ranked #3)2543.05%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
United Kingdom18,804,765(ranked #5; was #6 twenty-four weeks ago; increased by 684,775infections in 2 weeks.31,933161,224 (ranked #7 in world)12027.46%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
California, USA8,957,208(ranked #11 in the world;  165,891 new infections).13,48185,127 (ranked #20 in world)22722.69%(0.45% increase in 14 days)B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico5,473,481(ranked #17) 247,200 new infections in 14 days).18,252317,303(ranked #5)3624.17%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,669,671(ranked #20; 31,998 new infections in 14 days).2,11199,145 (ranked #18)1376.06%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Canada3,275,746(ranked #27, was 26th eight weeks ago; 94,919 new infections in 14 days).6,05036,448(ranked #26)718.55% .B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Poland5,637,646(ranked #15; 288,758 new infections in 14 days). 16,724111,056(ranked #15)19814.92%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + (South Africa November 2021),Omicron/B.1.1.529 +BA.3 NoNo
Turkey13,913,625(ranked #8, 1,165,284 new infections in 14 days).71,73693,805 (ranked #19)26616.21% (1.36% of the country was infected in the last 14 days.)B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Russia16,052,028;(ranked #6), 2,320,234 new infections in 14 days; a new pandemic record for 14 days).123,460349,365(ranked #4 in world)78710.99%; 1,54% of the country was infected in the last 14 days.B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)R1 (Japan) B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Argentina8,887,973(ranked #11; 1,955,001 new infections in 14 days, a new pandemic record for 14 days).139,853125,958(ranked #13 in world)8619.37% (4.25 % increase in two weeks, a new pandemic record for 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Colombia6,058,715(ranked #13, 50,724 new infections in 14 days).2,159136,764 (ranked #10 in world)18111.70%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Peru3,424,894(ranked #22, 81,181 new infections in 14 days). 13,693207,965(ranked #6)22810.15%, a 2.96% increase in 14 days; a new pandemic record for 14 days.B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Indonesia5,504,418(ranked #16; 796, 375 new infections in 14 days)46,643147,844 (ranked #9)2581.97%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)
NoNo
Iran7,023,904 262,099 new infections in last 14 days(ranked 12th; was 12th  twenty-four weeks ago)11,972136,166 (ranked #12)2148.18%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)


NoNo
Spain10,977,524(ranked 10th;   373,324 new infections in 14 days).27,52799,410 (ranked #17)24823.46% B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
France22,593,109(ranked #4; 1,089,450 new infections).58,138137,958 (ranked #11)188 34.48%, a 1.66% increase in 14 days.Delta/B.1.617.2 (India) Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

SARS-CoV-2 infections are accelerating at a rapid rate in the United States and many other countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. This is caused by the Delta variants and the Omicron variant of concern. Omicron is at least four times as infectious as the already highly infectious Delta variants. UK scientists have found that the household secondary attack rate for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.7% with Delta, meaning people infected with Omicron are twice as likely to infect household members as they would be if infected with Delta. They also estimate a “three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.”

I would expect the Omicron variant to continue to mutate just like Delta. There are already two Omicron variants, BA.1 and BA.2. We expect to see additional Omicron variants as this isolate spreads rapidly around the USA and the World. As of 12/22/21 the Omicron variant, which was first seen in South Africa on 11/08/21, is now in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. As of 1/14/22 Omicron has been identified on all seven continents and in at least 117 countries. 

Omicron has mutations which decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of the new Pfizer drug, PAXLOVIDTM, should not be compromised by any of the current mutations in Omicron or Delta variants. Pfizer completed their filing with the FDA on 11/15/21. The FDA approved PAXLOVIDTM on December 22 , 2021.The FDA approved Merck’s drug Molnupiravir on December 23, 2021. On 12/23/21 CVS announced by fax it was selected by the Government to distribute oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir. On 12/27/21 another fax from CVS listed which CVS pharmacies in California would have these drugs. Monterey County covers 3,771 square miles with a population of 434,061. Three CVS pharmacies in Monterey, Salinas, and Soledad are the only listed pharmacies in our county. Fresno County covers 6,011 square miles with a population of 999,101. Four CVS pharmacies in Fresno County are the only listed pharmacies. We obtained PAXLOVIDTM from the Salinas CVS pharmacy and successfully treated two patients in the last two weeks.

In the PAXLOVIDTM study, no deaths occurred in the treatment group. We are averaging over 1,000 deaths per day in the USA and Russia.  If PAXLOVIDTM is widely available and just 90% effective in preventing deaths, each country could prevent over 900 deaths per day. If Molnupiravir is widely available and just 50% effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations, each country could prevent over 450 deaths per day. If drug distribution doesn’t occur rapidly then that’s at least 27,000 additional deaths in each country that could have been prevented in the next 30 days. For now only masking (N95 rated masks, please!), social distancing and vaccination will have any effect on these variants. Furthermore, we do not believe that a 5-day quarantine or isolation period is sufficient for any COVID-19 infection. The Taiwanese CDC agrees with both our recommendations on quarantine period and masking. In fact, the Taiwanese CDC has recommended N95 masking since the beginning of the pandemic (and made these masks universally available to their population). Taiwan has one of the lowest death rates per million during the course of the pandemic (see graph below). 

In the United States as of 1/14/22, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the fifth time in ten 14-day periods. There were 357 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In November 2021, SARS-CoV-2 was the third most common cause of death in the United States. 

In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 451,915 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have increased for the fifth time over the last 14 weeks. With additional travel, holidays and events occurring in the next 30 days, we expect the infections to continue to increase. Unless people get vaccinated, including their third dose of the vaccine, we will see further spread of the Omicron variants and increase in deaths in people who are not vaccinated, have waning immunity, the immunocompromised population and others with risk factors particularly those older than over the age of 64. SARS-CoV-2 is now in the top ten most common causes of death for children. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately. 

The new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that caused a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 67 days, as of 1/14/22, Omicron has been found on seven continents, in 117 countries and all 50 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron was infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease like PAXLOVIDTM, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Per CDC data ending in 1/8/22, the Delta variant still accounts for 1.7% of new infections in the United States, while Omicron accounts for 98.3%. It’s worth noting that in the last 30 days, according to GISAID, the United States has only sequenced 0.885% of cases. 

On 1/14/22, the United States had 827,132 new infections with three states (Tennessee, Alabama, and Iowa) failing to report. There were also 2,303 deaths, with five other states failing to report deaths (Wyoming, Alaska, Connecticut, Missouri and Oklahoma). Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. The number of hospitalized patients has been increasing in many areas, and now 25,636 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 15,602 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 10,034 in the last 14 days, while at least 25,181 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients has increased for the fourth time in thirteen 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,799/day). 

As of 1/14/22, we have had 872,086 deaths and 66,209,535 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 10,513,035 new infections in the last 14 days, a new record. We are adding an average of 5,256,517 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 75.9 infections reported or over 13,172 deaths for each one million infections. As of 1/14/22, thirty-five states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 36 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Fourteen states (Indiana, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 60,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. On 11/20/21 in North Dakota, 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota, 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 1/14/22, in the United States, 20.00% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 14 months, 16.30% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. In the last 2 weeks 3.32% of the country became infected. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 13 months, there were 629,755 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For ten of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these ten months, 267,413 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Most of the hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 1/14/24, California was ranked 44th in infection percentage at 16.79% and 13.16% of Californians were infected in the last 13 months. As of 1/14/22 44 states have greater than 16% of their population infected. Twenty-six states have had greater than 20% of their population infected, which is not a list that you’d like to be on in 2022. Rhode Island was at 28.51% (ranked #1), North Dakota was at 25.22% (ranked #2), Alaska was at 23.55% (ranked #3), Florida was at 23.46% (ranked #4)  and Utah was at 23.40% (ranked #5) of their population infected. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia now have greater than 12% of their population infected. Only two states have less than 12% of their population infected: Maine (11.86%) and Hawaii (11.30%). Maine, Hawaii  and the US Virgin Islands still remain the safest places to visit in the United States. Hawaii had its first patient with an Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 infection six weeks ago. 

The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi and Arizona have the eighth highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. New Jersey is tied at ninth with Louisiana and Alabama, New York is at tenth, followed by  Arkansas at 11th, Massachusetts at 12th and Rhode Island at 13th and Florida at 14th. The United States as a whole ranks 19th in the world for deaths per million population (2,611 deaths per million). California ranks 37th in the USA (and 40th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (122), Iceland (128), Japan (146), and Israel (890), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,517 per million, compared to 252 per million in Norway and 310 per million in Finland. The United States should take a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi3,570  1st8th
New Jersey  3,3734th9th tied
Louisiana3,2565th9th tied
New York 3,1926th10th
Alabama3,3943rd9th tied
Arizona3,4442nd8th
Massachusetts3,03811th12th tied
Rhode Island  2,997  15th13th tied
Arkansas3,1198th11th
Florida2,93717th14th
California1,972 37th40th
USA2,61119th
Peru6,0371st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  4,2293rd
North Macedonia  3,8806th
Hungary4,1814th
Montenegro3,9245th
Bulgaria4,6602nd
Gibraltar2,96913th
Czechia3,4288th
Brazil2,88914th
San Marino3.02612th
Georgia3,6197th
Sweden1,51757th
Israel89089th
Canada81994th
Finland310134th
Norway252137th
Japan146154th
Iceland128159th
South Korea122162nd

A New Drug for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment

Pfizer has developed a reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, called Compound 6, is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21. This drug is now approved. We have successfully treated two patients with this drug. In my opinion, this agent, if more widely available, could markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

Source: World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Omicron cases sequenced as of 1/16/22:

Source: GISAID

Map of Omicron sequenced transmissions:

Source: GISAID

Delta cases sequenced as of 1/16/22: 

Source: GISAID

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

Source: GISAID

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 1/16/22:

Source: GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 1/14/22New Infections on 1/14/22Total DeathsNew Deaths on 1/14/22% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World324,182,263(25,715,028 new infections in 14 days; a new record for the pandemic for 14 days).3,233,8685,547,390(94,398 new deaths in last 14 days)7,8524.16%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo
USA66,209,535
(ranked #1) 10,513,035 new infections in the last 14 days; new record for the pandemic for 14 days).		827,132
(ranked #1)		872,086
(ranked #1)25,181 new deaths in the last 14 days.		2,30320.00%
(3.32% increase in 14 days, new record for the pandemic for a 14 day period). 		B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Brazil22,927,203(ranked #3)   111,376620,847(ranked #2)23810.67%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India36,850,962(ranked #2)268,833485,780(ranked #3)4302.63%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
United Kingdom12,937,886(ranked #4; was #6 twenty weeks ago; increased by 2,128,529 infections in 2 weeks; a new pandemic record for 14 days).99,652151,612 (ranked #7 in world)27022.01%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
California, USA5,363,784(ranked #12 in the world;  1,241,751 new infections; a new pandemic record for 14 days).118,32477,928 (ranked #20 in world)13116.79%(3.12% increase in 14 days)B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico4,257,740(ranked #16; 288,054 new infections in 14 days).43,523300,912(ranked #5)1483.24%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,552,043(ranked #18; 275,514  new infections in 14 days).


Exponential growth of Omicron occurred in South Africa. Children under 5 were infected.Quadrupling of daily infections over four days.		5,235
11,754 on 12/31/21
16,055 on 12/3/21,11,535 on 12/2/21,8,561 on 12/1/21,4,373 on 11/30/21,789 on 11/19/21339 on 11/5/21		9 (ranked #17)845.72%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Canada2,717,982(ranked #22, was 26th two weeks ago; 534,455 new infections in 14 days, a new pandemic record for 14 days).29,23131,317(ranked #29)1277.10% (2.23 % increase in two weeks, a new pandemic record for 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Poland4,281,482(ranked #14)16,047101,841 (ranked #15)42311.33%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 + BA.3 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Turkey10,339,097(ranked #7, 865,547 new infections in 14 days, a new pandemic record for 14 days).67,85784,445 (ranked #19)16712.05%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
Russia10,747,125(ranked #6)23,820319,911(ranked #4 in world)7397.35%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)R1 (Japan) B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Argentina6,932,972(ranked #11; 1,278,504 new infections in 14 days, a new pandemic record for 14 days).139,853117,901 (ranked #13 in world)9315.12% (2.78 % increase in two weeks, a new pandemic record for 14 days).B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Colombia5,157,440(ranked #13, 318,469 new infections in 14 days.)34,923130,731 (ranked #11 in world)10610.58%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Peru2,296,831(ranked #23, 215,958 new infections in 14 days). 39,080203,302(ranked #6)477.46%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Indonesia4,269,740(ranked #15)850144,163 (ranked #8)81.53%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)
NoNo
Iran6,217,320(ranked 12th; was 12th  twenty weeks ago)2,539132,026 (ranked #10)247.25%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)


NoNo
Spain8,093,036(ranked 9th;   1,798,291 new infections in 14 days, a new pandemic record for 14 days).162,50690,759 (ranked #18)13917.29% (3.84% increase in two weeks, a new pandemic record for 14 days). B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 + BA.1 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)NoNo
France13,569,675 (ranked #5)329,371126,721 (ranked #12)19120.71Delta/B.1.617.2 (India) Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)B.1.640.1 (Congo/France)B.1.640.2 (Cameroon/France)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

SARS-CoV-2 infections are accelerating at a rapid rate in the United States and many other countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. This is caused by the Delta variants and the Omicron variant of concern. Omicron is at least four times as infectious as the already highly infectious Delta variants. UK scientists have found that the household secondary attack rate for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.7% with Delta, meaning people infected with Omicron are twice as likely to infect household members as they would be if infected with Delta. They also estimate a “three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.”

I would expect the Omicron variant to continue to mutate just like Delta. There are already two Omicron variants, BA.1 and BA.2. We expect to see additional Omicron variants as this isolate spreads rapidly around the USA and the World. As of 12/22/21 the Omicron variant, which was first seen in South Africa on 11/08/21, is now in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. It has also been identified in at least 92 countries. 

Omicron has mutations which decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of the new Pfizer drug, PAXLOVIDTM, should not be compromised by any of the current mutations in Omicron or Delta variants. Pfizer completed their filing with the FDA on 11/15/21. The FDA approved PAXLOVIDTM on December 22 , 2021.The FDA approved Merck’s drug Molnupiravir on December 23, 2021. On 12/23/21 CVS announced by fax it was selected by the Government to distribute oral PAXLOVIDTM and Molnupiravir. On 12/27/21 another fax from CVS listed which CVS pharmacies in California would have these drugs. Monterey County covers 3,771 square miles with a population of 434,061. Three CVS pharmacies in Monterey, Salinas, and Soledad are the only listed pharmacies in our county. Fresno County covers 6,011 square miles with a population of 999,101. Four CVS pharmacies in Fresno County are the only listed pharmacies.

In the PAXLOVIDTM study no deaths occurred in the treatment group. We are averaging over 1,000 deaths per day in the USA and Russia.  If PAXLOVIDTM is widely available and just 90% effective in preventing deaths, each country could prevent over 900 deaths per day. If Molnupiravir is widely available and just 50% effective in preventing deaths and hospitalizations, each country could prevent over 450 deaths per day. If drug distribution doesn’t occur rapidly then that’s at least 27,000 additional deaths in each country that could have been prevented in the next 30 days. For now only masking (N95 rated masks, please!), social distancing and vaccination will have any effect on these variants. Furthermore, we do not believe that a 5-day quarantine or isolation period is sufficient for any COVID-19 infection. The Taiwanese CDC agrees with both our recommendations on quarantine period and masking. In fact, the Taiwanese CDC has recommended N95 masking since the beginning of the pandemic (and made these masks universally available to their population). Taiwan has one of the lowest death rates per million during the course of the pandemic (see graph below). 

In the United States as of 12/31/21, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the third time in seven 14-day periods. There were 113 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 160,999 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have increased for the fourth time over the last 14 weeks.With travel and multiple holidays and events occurring in the next 60 days, we expect the infections to continue to increase. Unless people get vaccinated and get their third dose of the vaccine, we will see further spread of Delta variants like AY4.2 and an increase in deaths particularly in people with risk factors and over the age of 55. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately. 

A new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that was causing a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 54 days, as of 12/31/21, Omicron has been found in 70 countries and 40 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron is infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Per CDC data ending in 12/25/21, the Delta variant still accounts for 41.1% of new infections in the United States, while Omicron accounts for 58.6%. It’s worth noting that in the last 30 days, according to GISAID, the United States has only sequenced 2.23% of cases. 

On 12/31/21, the United States had 443,677 new infections with twenty-two states and the District of Columbia failing to report. There were also 716 deaths (with 27 other states failing to report deaths). Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. The number of hospitalized patients has been increasing in many areas, and now 15,602 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 13,714 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 1,888 in the last 14 days, while at least 18,603 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients has increased for the third time in twelve 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,329/day). 

As of 12/31/21, we have had 846,905 deaths and 55,696,500 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 4,186,219 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 2,093,110 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 65.3 infections reported or over 15,206 deaths for each one million infections. As of 12/31/21, thirty-four states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 36 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Thirteen states (Tennessee, Massachusetts, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 60,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota, 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota, 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 12/17/21, in the United States, 15.45% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 13 months, 11.75% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 13 months, there were 604,574 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For ten of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these ten months, 242,232 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Many of these hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 12/31/21, California was ranked 43rd in infection percentage at 13.57% and 10.04% of Californians were infected in the last 13 months. As of 12/31/21 42 states have greater than 16% of their population infected. Five states have greater than 20% of their population, which is not a list that you’d like to be on in 2021. North Dakota was at 22.85% (ranked #1), Rhode Island was at 21.81% (ranked #2), Tennessee was at 20,89% (ranked #3), Alaska was at 20.72% (ranked #4)  and South Dakota was at 20.25% (ranked #5) of their population infected. Forty-four states and the District of Columbia now have greater than 12% of their population infected. Only one state has less than 8% of their population infected: Hawaii (7.97%). Hawaii  and the US Virgin Islands still remain the safest places in the United States. Hawaii had its first patient with an Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 infection four weeks ago. 

The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi has the seventh highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. New Jersey is 8th, New York, Louisiana and Arizona would be tied at the 9th highest number of deaths per million in the world, followed by  Arkansa at 12th, Arizona, Massachusetts and Rhode Island tied at 13th and Florida at 14th. The United States as a whole ranks 21st in the world for deaths per million population (2,559 deaths per million). California ranks 36th in the USA (and 37th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (108), Iceland (107), Japan (146), and Israel (884), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,498 per million, compared to 238 per million in Norway and 282 per million in Finland. The United States should take a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi3,511  1st7th
New Jersey  3,2694th8th
Louisiana3,2245th9th tied
New York 3,0856th9th tied
Alabama3,3562nd9th tied
Arizona3,3293rd9th tied
Massachusetts2,94111th13th tied
Rhode Island  2,894  15th13th tied
Arkansas3,031 8th12th
Florida2,90913th14th
California1,920 35th36th
USA2,55921st
Peru6,0221st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  4,1363rd
North Macedonia  3,8216th
Hungary4,0724th
Montenegro3,8215th
Bulgaria4,5062nd
Gibraltar2,96912th
Czechia3,3678th
Brazil2,88214th
San Marino2,93613th
Georgia3,2618th
Sweden1,49857th
Israel88487th
Canada79394th
Finland282135th
Norway238138th
Japan146154th
Iceland107164th
South Korea108163rd

A New Drug for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment

Pfizer has developed a reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, called Compound 6, is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21. I had anticipated that the drug would be approved in the next 7 days. In my opinion, this agent, if approved, will markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

Source: World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Source: World Health Organization

Omicron cases sequenced as of 1/2/22:

Source: GISAID

Delta cases sequenced as of 1/2/22: 

Source: GISAID

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

Source: GISAID

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 1/2/22:

Source: GISAID

Gamma cases sequenced as of 1/2/22:

Source: GISAID

Mu cases sequenced as of 1/2/22:

Source: GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 12/31/21New Infections on 12/31/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 12/31/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World288,467,234(14,507,440 new infections in 14 days).1,638,2365,452,992(92,274 new deaths in last 14 days)5,9443.70%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
USA55,510,281
(ranked #1) 4,182,219 new infections in the last 14 days)		443,677
(ranked #1)		846,905
(ranked #1)20,186 new deaths in the last 14 days)		71616.68%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
Brazil22,287,521(ranked #3)   10,282619,109(ranked #2)8510.37%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India34,861,579(ranked #2)22,775481,486(ranked #3)4062.49%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
United Kingdom12,937,886(ranked #4; was #6 eighteen weeks ago)189.846148,624 (ranked #7 in world)20318.90%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
California, USA5,363,784(ranked #13 in world)39,04378,739 (ranked #20 in world)4913.67%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico3,969,686(ranked #16)8,024 299,285(ranked #5)1533.03%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,276,529(ranked #18)




Exponential growth of Omicron occurring in South Africa. Children under 5 are infected.Quadrupling of daily infections in last four days.		11,754 on 12/31/21

16,055 on 12/3/21,11,535 on 12/2/21,8,561 on 12/1/21,4,373 on 11/30/21,789 on 11/19/21339 on 11/5/21		91,145 (ranked #17)845.72%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa, November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
Canada2,183,527(ranked #26)41,21730,319(ranked #29)124.87%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
Poland4,108,215(ranked #15)13,61397,054 (ranked #15)63810.87%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Turkey9,482,550(ranked #7)40,78682,361 (ranked #19)16311.06%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Russia10,499,982(ranked #5)20,638308,860(ranked #4 in world)9127.19%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)R1(Japan) B.1.640 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Argentina5,654,468(ranked #12)47,663117,169 (ranked #13 in world)2312.34%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Colombia5,157,440(ranked #13)1,803129,942 (ranked #11 in world)419.97%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Peru2,296,831(ranked #23)4,577202,690(ranked #6)376.82%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Indonesia4,262,720(ranked #14)180144,094 (ranked #8)=61.53%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.640 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Iran6,194,401(ranked 10th; was 12th eighteen weeks ago)1,703131,606 (ranked #10)347.23%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Spain6,294,745(ranked 9th) ———-89,405 (ranked #18)——-13.45%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

What You Should Know about Omicron

davidcwrightmd

The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was first identified in South Africa and was classified as a Variant of Concern by both WHO and CDC in November 2021. The first Omicron case to be sequenced in the US was identified in California on December 1 and the first reported death due to Omicron in the US was on December 20 in Texas. According to GISAID, in the last 30 days, the United States only sequenced about 2.56% of COVID cases (compare this to 9.8% in the UK, 6% in Australia, 18% in Denmark, and 17% in Israel), which would explain why we’re late to the game in addressing Omicron. 

In under three weeks, Omicron has become the dominant variant in the US.  

In the US, Omicron went from making up 12.6% of new COVID cases two weeks ago (week ending 12/11/32) to making up 73% of cases last week (reported 12/18/21). That’s an increase of more than 400% in one week. By comparison, the Delta doubled about once a week, going from around 3% of cases in mid-June to 41% of cases by early July and 62% of cases by mid-July. Omicron became the dominant variant in the US in less than half the amount of time that Delta did. 

Source: CDC https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions  

In Los Angeles County, new COVID infections per day (8,000+) are now over triple what they were a week ago.

Source: https://twitter.com/lapublichealth 

In December, Monterey County has seen a spike in cases for all age groups, but especially for children 12-17. 

Source: https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/health/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-local-data-10219 

Statewide, this past weekend, California averaged 2,456 more new cases per day than the previous weekend. 

*Includes weekend cases—average 6,301 new cases per day. Source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR21-360.aspx 

*Includes weekend cases—average 8,757 new cases per day, an increase of 2,456. Source: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR21-351.aspx 

In the United States, as of 12/23/21, cases, deaths, and hospitalizations are trending upward.

Cases are up 55% over the last 14 days, deaths are up 7%, and hospitalizations are up 10%. 

Source: NY Times https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html 

Nearly everyone (vaccinated or not, previously infected or not) who is exposed to Omicron is likely to become infected; vaccines will still prevent many infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, just not as many as with previous variants.

A study in South Africa found that during the current Omicron wave, two doses of the Pfizer vaccine provided “70% protection against severe complications of COVID-19 requiring hospitalisation, and 33% protection against COVID-19 infection.”  In addition, researchers at Imperial College London estimate that the reinfection risk for Omicron is 5.4 times higher than for Delta, meaning that folks with previous COVID infections are likely to have limited protection. 

Monoclonal antibody treatment (MAB) has saved the lives of many patients infected with other variants; it appears to be less effective against Omicron.

Two preprints, one published by German researchers on December 7, and another, a collaboration between American, Italian, Swiss, and Australian researchers, published on December 14, both suggest that due to Omicron’s 37 mutations in the Spike protein, 15 of which are in the receptor binding domain (RBD), it is able to evade our currently-available monoclonal antibody drugs. As William Haseltine explains in his write-up of the December 14 preprint: “Of the eight approved or authorized antibodies, all but sotrovimab completely or almost completely lost their neutralizing activity against the Omicron pseudovirus,” and “sotrovimab…retained neutralizing activity, but at a significant reduction.”

Omicron spreads more easily in households than Delta does, making it more likely that people will infect their loved ones this winter.

Data collected in UK households suggests that the secondary attack rate (chance that an index case in a household will infect someone else) for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.8% for Delta. 

Children may be at higher risk of contracting Omicron and being hospitalized, compared to previous variants. 

A South African study found that “Despite very low absolute incidence, preliminary data suggests that children have a 20% higher risk of hospital admission in Omicron-led fourth wave in South Africa, relative to the D614G-led first wave.” And in England, hospital admissions for children over the last week are at an all-time high of 396. 

Source: https://twitter.com/Antonio_Caramia/status/1474428188398862339/photo/1 

This morning, the Washington Post reported that pediatric hospitals around the country are filling up; over the past three days, approximately 800 children per day were admitted for COVID infections. 

Even mild infections can have severe consequences, like Long COVID and MIS-C. Those infected with Omicron who develop mild infections may still face long-term health complications due to Long COVID and/or MIS-C, and many of these patients in the US will go without proper diagnosis and treatment. Ed Yong has documented for The Atlantic how even health care workers have been dismissed and denied treatment for Long COVID. And yes, children also get Long COVID. 

Now that you know more about Omicron, what should you do?

  1. Wear a highly-protective mask, like an N95 or KN95. Beware of fakes. Do not order from a website like Amazon, which does not vet its suppliers. Project N95 is a trustworthy supplier of masks. For more on how to buy a quality mask online, see this NY Times piece and also this one. If you are not able to purchase an N95 or KN95 mask, layer a cloth mask over a surgical mask for a tight fit. Always make sure your mask covers your nose, mouth, and chin, with no gaps at the top or around the sides. 
  1. Get your booster vaccine as soon as possible. Per CDC, everyone 16+ should receive a booster shot. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, get vaccinated, and encourage friends and family to do the same. Everyone age 5+ can be vaccinated. LA County residents can go here to find information on where to get vaccinated. US residents can text your ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233 to find vaccine locations near you.
  1. Gather outdoors and keep distance between you and people from outside your household. Because COVID is airborne, when people gather indoors, the virus builds up in the air, making it more likely for people to get infected. Think about it like cigarette smoke. If you allowed someone to smoke inside your house, the smoke would stay in the air, even hours later, making your indoor air unsafe to breathe. If you had a backyard barbecue and the same person went to the far corner of your yard (away from other people) to smoke, the chances of you breathing that smoke would be significantly lower. 
  1. If you must gather indoors, make sure everyone masks and that the space is well-ventilated. Open windows and use HEPA air purifiers whenever possible. Don’t have an air purifier? You can make a simple but effective one using HVAC filters and a box fan. 
  1. Test before and after you gather. If hosting a gathering, you can ask your guests to take a rapid antigen test at home on the day of the event. These tests, like Abbott’s Binax and Quidel’s Quickvue, don’t catch 100% of infections, but they will catch many. There are some tests (made by Applied DNA Sciences, Meridian Bioscience and Tide Laboratories) that the FDA has said cannot identify the Omicron variant, so take care to avoid those. 
  1. Avoid gathering with unvaccinated people. Make it clear to friends and family that gathering with you is a privilege, not a right. Vaccine-hesitant loved ones may find the motivation they need to get vaccinated if they realize that’s the only way that they’ll be seeing you. 
  1. Get your flu shot. COVID isn’t the only thing putting people in the hospital this winter, and it’s possible to be infected with both flu and COVID. A flu shot is the best defense against the flu. 
  1. If you develop COVID symptoms or flu-like symptoms: get tested for COVID-19. If you test negative for COVID, you may have the flu. If you believe you have the flu and have tested negative for COVID, you should request a prescription from your doctor for Tamiflu within the first 72 hours. 

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

SARS-CoV-2 infections are accelerating at a rapid rate in the United States and many other countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy. This is caused by the Delta variants and the Omicron variant of concern. Omicron is at least four times as infectious as the already highly infectious Delta variants. UK scientists have found that the household secondary attack rate for Omicron is 21.6%, compared to 10.7% with Delta, meaning people infected with Omicron are twice as likely to infect household members as they would be if infected with Delta. They also estimate a “three- to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.”

I would expect the Omicron variant to continue to mutate just like Delta. There are already two Omicron variants, BA.1 and BA.2. We expect to see additional Omicron variants as this isolate spreads rapidly around the USA and the World. As of 12/18/21 the Omicron variant, which was first seen in South Africa on 11/08/21, is now in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. It has also been identified in at least 70 countries. 

Omicron has mutations which decrease the effectiveness of current vaccines and monoclonal antibodies. The effectiveness of the new Pfizer drug, PAXLOVIDTM, should not be compromised by any of the current mutations in Omicron or Delta variants. Pfizer completed their filing with the FDA on 11/15/21. That’s 33 days ago and still no word from the FDA on approval. No deaths occurred in their study in the treatment group. We are averaging over 1,000 deaths per day in the USA and Russia.  If the drug were available and just 90% effective in preventing deaths, each country could prevent over 900 deaths per day. If the FDA takes another 30 days for approval and drug distribution doesn’t occur rapidly then that’s at least 27,000 additional deaths in each country that could have been prevented. For now only masking (N95 rated masks, please!), social distancing and vaccination will have any effect on these variants.

In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the second time in six 14-day periods. There were 113 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 41,127 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have increased for the third time over the last 14 weeks. With travel and multiple holidays and events occurring in the next 60 days, we expect the infections to continue to increase. Unless people get vaccinated and get their third dose of the vaccine, we will see further spread of Delta variants like AY4.2 and an increase in deaths particularly in people with risk factors and over the age of 55. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately. 

A new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that is causing a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 40 days, as of 12/17/21, Omicron has been found in 70 countries and 40 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron is infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The Delta variants still account for 97% of new infections in the United States. Omicron accounted for 3% of infections by 12/11/21. 

On 12/17/21, the United States had 163,707 new infections with two states failing to report (Iowa and Maryland). There were also 1,653 deaths (with five other states failing to report deaths). Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. The number of hospitalized patients has been increasing in many areas, and now 15,602 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 13,714 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 1,888 in the last 14 days, while at least 18,603 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients has increased for the third time in twelve 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,329/day). 

As of 12/17/21, we have had 826,719 deaths and 51,510,281 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 1,932,232 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 966,166 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 62.3 infections reported or over 16,050 deaths for each one million infections. As of 12/17/21, thirty-one states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 36 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Eleven states (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 50,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota, 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota, 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 12/17/21, in the United States, 15.45% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 13 months, 11.75% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 13 months, there were 566,388 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For ten of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these ten months, 221,946 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Many of these hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 12/17/21, California was ranked 42nd in infection percentage at 12.80% and 10.04% of Californians were infected in the last 13 months. And now let’s look at the top 27 infected states, all greater than 16%, which is not a list that you’d like to be on in 2021. North Dakota was at 22.17% (ranked #1), Alaska was at 20.39% (ranked #2), Tennessee was at 19.71% (ranked #3), Rhode Island was at 19.70% (ranked #4), South Dakota was at 19.62% (ranked #5), Wyoming 19.60% (ranked #6),  , Utah at 19.26% (ranked #7), Iowa was at 18.93% (ranked #8), Kentucky was at 18.48% (ranked #9), Arizona was at 18.28% (ranked #10), Montana was at 18.22% (ranked #11), South Carolina was at 18.18% (ranked #12), Wisconsin was at 18.10% (ranked #13), Arkansas was at 17.97% (ranked #14), Florida was at 17.59% (ranked #15), Indiana was at 17.55% (ranked#16), Mississippi was at 17.55% (ranked #17), Idaho was at 17.53% (ranked #18), West Virginia was at 17.49% (ranked #19), Alabama was at 17.47% (ranked #20), Oklahoma was at 17.30% (ranked #21), Minnesota was at 17.15% (ranked#22), Kansas was at 16.93%(ranked #23), Nebraska was at 16.27% (ranked #24), Louisiana was at 16.79% (ranked #25), Delaware was at 16.74%(ranked #26) and Michigan at 16.01% of the population infected (ranked #27). Forty-two states now have greater than 12% of their population infected. Only one state has less than 7% of their population infected: Hawaii (6.43%). Hawaii  and the US Virgin Islands still remain the safest places in the United States. Hawaii had its first patient with an Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 infection two weeks ago. 

The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi has the fifth highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. New York, New Jersey and Arizona would be tied at the 9th highest number of deaths per million in the world, followed by  Louisiana at 10th, Arkansa at 11th, Arizona, Florida at 12th, Massachusetts and Rhode Island tied at 14th. The United States as a whole ranks 20th in the world for deaths per million population (2,495 deaths per million). California ranks 35th in the USA (and 36th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (89), Iceland (105), Japan (146), and Israel (882), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,491 per million, compared to 219 per million in Norway and 260 per million in Finland. The United States should take a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi3,479  1st5th
New Jersey  3,2283rd9th tied
Louisiana3,2105th10th
New York 3,0336th9th tied
Alabama3,3332nd7th
Arizona3,2274th9th tied
Massachusetts2,87011th14th tied
Rhode Island  2,824  13th14th tied
Arkansas2,959 7th11th
Florida2,8969th12th
California1,920 35th36th
USA2,49520th
Peru6,0071st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  4,0363rd
North Macedonia  3,7416th
Hungary3,8994th
Montenegro3,7765th
Bulgaria4,3562nd
Gibraltar2,96910th
Czechia3,2647th
Brazil2,87513th
San Marino2,76214th
Georgia3,2618th
Sweden1,49156th
Israel88287th
Canada78594th
Finland260135th
Norway219139th
Japan146153rd
Iceland105163rd
South Korea89167th

A New Drug for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment

Pfizer has developed a reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, called Compound 6, is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21. I had anticipated that the drug would be approved in the next 7 days. In my opinion, this agent, if approved, will markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

Source: World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Omicron cases sequenced as of 12/17/21:

Source: GISAID

Delta cases sequenced as of 12/17/21: 

Source: GISAID

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

Source: GISAID

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 12/17/21:

Source: GISAID

Gamma cases sequenced as of 12/17/21:

Source: GISAID

Mu cases sequenced as of 12/17/21:

Source: GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 12/17/21New Infections on 12/17/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 12/17/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World273,960,234(8,798,529 new infections in 14 days).730,0905,360,728(102,682 new deaths in last 14 days;7,2973.51%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
USA51,510,281
(ranked #1) 1,932,232 new infections in the last 14 days)		163,707
(ranked #1)		826,719
(ranked #1)18,603 new deaths in the last 14 days)		1,65315.45%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
Brazil22,209,020(ranked #3)   4,079617,647(ranked #2)12610.34%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India34,732,592(ranked #2)6,543476,897(ranked #3)382.48%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
United Kingdom11,190,354(ranked #4; was #6 sixrteen weeks ago)93,045147,048(ranked #7 in world)11116.35%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
California, USA5,067,329(ranked #14 in world)9,12575,935(ranked #20 in world)11312.82%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico3,927,265(ranked #15)2,627 297,356(ranked #4)1693.00%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,276,529(ranked #18)
Exponential growth of Omicron occurring in South Africa. Children under 5 are infected.Quadrupling of daily infections in last four days.		20,713 on 12/17/21,16,055 on 12/3/21,11,535 on 12/2/21,8,561 on 12/1/21,4,373 on 11/30/21,789 on 11/19/21339 on 11/5/2190,297355.42%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa, November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo
Canada1,864,891(ranked #27)6,89230,624124.87%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)Yes, except Alberta ProvinceNo
Poland3,923,472(ranked #16)20,02790,87256610.38%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Turkey9,136,565(ranked #6)18,14180,05319010.66%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Russia10,159,389(ranked #5)27,743295,104(ranked #5 in world)1,0806.95%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)R1(Japan) B.1.640 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Argentina5,382,290(ranked #11)5,648116,8921811.75%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Colombia5,103,269(ranked #13)1,803129,345509.87%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Peru2,269,180(ranked #23)——–202,076(ranked #6)——-6.71%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Indonesia4,260,148(ranked #14)291143,98671.53%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.640 (Congo/France)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Iran6,157,650(ranked 9th; was 12th sixteen weeks ago)2,196130,992467.20%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)NoNo
Spain5,455,527(ranked 10th) 33,35988,7084111.66%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)B.1.640 (Congo/France)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the first time in five 14-day periods. There were 43 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 8,237 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period. Our infections per day have increased for the second time over the last 12 weeks. With travel and multiple holidays and events occurring in the next 60 days, I expect the infections to continue to increase. Unless people get vaccinated and get their third dose of the vaccine we will see further spread of Delta variants like AY4.2 and an increase in deaths particularly in people with risk factors and over the age of 55. Anyone over the age of 5 years can now get vaccinated in the United States at no cost. This should get done immediately. 

A new variant, B.1.1.529 (Omicron), was first seen in South Africa on 11/8/21 with multiple new mutations, deletions and an insertion that is causing a doubling of new infections every 1.3 days in Gauteng, South Africa. In just 26 days, as of 12/03/21, Omicron has been found in 42 countries and 12 states in the United States. Unlike Delta variants in South Africa, Omicron is infecting and hospitalizing patients in all age groups but particularly children under five years of age and adults greater than 60 years of age. Increased vaccinations, vaccines against new mutants, drugs against 3C-like protease, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan, are all necessary to continue to stop further spread of mutants and reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The Delta variants still account for 99% of new infections in the United States. On 12/03/21, the United States had 147,434 new infections with one state failing to report (Iowa). There were also 1,352 deaths (with six other states failing to report deaths). Florida continues to consistently under-report daily infections and deaths. The number of hospitalized patients had been decreasing in many areas but now 13,714 patients are seriously or critically ill; that number was 11,767 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 1,947 in the last 14 days, while at least 17,018 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients has increased for the second time in eleven 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,216/day). 

As of 12/03/21, we have had 808,116 deaths and 49,378,049 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 1,356,453 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 678,227 infections every seven days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 60.4 infections reported or over 16,533 deaths for each one million infections. As of 12/03/21, thirty-one states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 35 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Eleven states (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York, Arizona and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 50,000 deaths. 

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2). As of 12/03/21, in the United States, 14.94% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 12.5 months, over 11% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. On 11/20/20, there were 260,331 (cumulative) deaths in the US from SARS-CoV-2. In the last 12 months, there were 547,885 new deaths from SARS-CoV-2. For nearly nine of those months, vaccines have been available to all adults. During these nine months, 203,345 people have died of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Many of these hospitalizations and deaths could have been prevented by vaccination, proper masking, and social distancing. 

As of 12/03/21, California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 12.50% and 9.74% of Californians were infected in the last 12 months. And now let’s look at the top 26 infected states (all greater than 16%, which is not a list that you’d like to be on in 2021. North Dakota was at 21.53% (ranked #1), Alaska was at 20.03% (ranked #2), Tennessee was at 19.37% (ranked #3), Wyoming 19.37% (ranked #4),  South Dakota was at 19.02% (ranked #5), Utah at 18.77% (ranked #6), South Carolina was at 17.90% (ranked #10), Rhode Island was at 18.39% (ranked #7), Montana was at 17.98% (ranked #9), Iowa was at 18.08% (ranked #8), Florida was at 17.43% (ranked #14), Arkansas was at 17.63% (ranked #12),  Kentucky was at 17.79% (ranked #11), Alabama was at 17.28% (ranked #16), Mississippi was at 17.32% (ranked #15), Idaho was at 17.27% (ranked #17), Arizona was at 17.43% (ranked #13) Oklahoma was at 16.94% (ranked #19), Louisiana was at 16.622% (ranked #21), Wisconsin was at 17.13% (ranked #18),  West Virginia was at 16.66% (ranked #20), Indiana was at 16.61% (ranked#22), Kansas was at 16.28%(ranked #23), Minnesota was at 16.24% (ranked#25) and Nebraska at 16.22% of the population infected (ranked #2). Forty-two states now have greater than 12% of their population infected. Only one state has less than 7% of their population infected: Hawaii (6.21%). Hawaii, Vermont, and the US Virgin Islands still remain the safest places in the United States. Although Hawaii has just had its first patient with an Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 infection. 

The table below shows that if we rank the US states with the highest death rates per million population within the world rankings, we see that Mississippi has the sixth highest COVID-19 deaths per million in the world. Alabama, New Jersey and Louisiana would be tied at the 7th highest number of deaths per million in the world, followed by  Arizona, NewYork tied at 9th, Florida at 11th, Arkansas, Massachusetts and Rhode Island tied at 12th. The United States as a whole ranks 20th in the world for deaths per million population (2,390 deaths per million). California ranks 35th in the USA (and 36th in the world). If we look at the death rates per million in South Korea (73), Iceland (102), Japan (146), and Israel (879), they suggest that treatment outcomes are somehow different in these four countries. The same phenomenon can be seen in Scandinavia, where the death rate in Sweden is 1,486 per million, compared to 199 per million in Norway and 245 per million in Finland. The United States should take a closer look at how countries with low death rates (like South Korea, Iceland, Japan, Finland, and Norway) are preventing COVID-19 infections and treating COVID-19 patients. 

State or Country COVID-19 Deaths per million populationRank in USARanked within World
Mississippi3,460    1st6th
New Jersey  3,2013rd7th tied
Louisiana3,1894th7th tied
New York 2,9946th9th tied
Alabama3,2982nd7th tied
Arizona3,0775th9th 
Massachusetts2,82811th12th tied
Rhode Island  2,776   12th12th tied
Arkansas2,883 8th12th tied
Florida2,8709th11th
California1,898 35th35th
USA2,42120th
Peru5,9881st
Bosnia-Herzegovina  3,9023rd
North Macedonia  3,6965th
Hungary3,6496th
Montenegro3,6964th
Bulgaria4,1852nd
Gibraltar2,94010th
Czechia3,1227th
Brazil2,86611th
San Marino2,73312th
Georgia3,0818th
Sweden1,48656th
Israel87986th
Canada77894th
Finland245136th
Norway199141st
Japan146153rd
Iceland102163rd
South Korea73169th
Data from Worldometers

A New Drug for SARS-CoV-2 Treatment

Pfizer has developed a reversible inhibitor of C3-like protease of SARS-CoV-2. The drug inhibits this key enzyme that is crucial for virus production. The compound, called Compound 6, is part of the drug combination PAXLOVID™ (PF-07321332; ritonavir), which just successfully completed a Phase 2-3 trial in humans in multiple countries. The preliminary results were announced on 11/5/21 by Pfizer. The results show that 89% of the hospitalizations and deaths were prevented in the drug treatment arm. The drug was administered twice a day for five days. No deaths occurred in the treatment group, and ten deaths occurred in the placebo group. The study was stopped by an independent data safety monitoring board, and the FDA concurred with this decision. Pfizer applied for an Emergency Use Authorization for this drug on 11/15/21.  I would anticipate that the drug would be approved in the next 21 days. In my opinion, this agent, if approved, will markedly alter the course of every coronavirus infection throughout the world. 

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following five variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

Source: World Health Organization

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Source: World Health Organization

Omicron cases sequenced as of 12/4/21:

Source: GISAID

Delta cases sequenced as of 12/4/21: 

Source: GISAID

B.1.640 cases sequenced as of 12/4/21:

Source: GISAID

Map of Delta sequenced transmissions:

Source: GISAID

Gamma cases sequenced as of 12/4/21:

Source: GISAID

Mu cases sequenced as of 12/4/21:

Source: GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 12/03/21New Infections on 12/03/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 12/03/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World265,161,705(8,234,681 new infections in 14 days; an increase of 1,142,190 infections from the preceding 14 days)705,5745,258,046(102,708 deaths in 14 days; an increase of 5,145 deaths from the preceding 14 days).7,9153.40%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)R1 (Japan)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
USA49,878,049
(ranked #1) 1,356,453 new infections in the last 14 days)		147,434
(ranked #1)		808,116
(ranked #1)17,018 new deaths in the last 14 days)		1,35214.94%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)R1(Japan)         Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Brazil22,129,409(ranked #3)   10,627615,454(ranked #2)2,22910.30%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
India34,624,360(ranked #2)8,603470,530(ranked #3)4152.47%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
United Kingdom10,349,647(ranked #4; was #6 fourteen weeks ago)50,584145,424 (ranked #7 in world)14315.17%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
California, USA4,978,179(ranked #14 in world)8,54775,013 (ranked #20 in world)9012.59%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
Mexico3,894,364(ranked #15)3,146 294,715(ranked #4)2872.97%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)NoNo
South Africa3,004,203(ranked #18)
Exponential growth of Omicron occurring in South Africa. Children under 5 are infected.Quadrupling of daily infections in last four days.		16,055 on 12/3/21,11,535 on 12/2/21,8,561 on 12/1/21,4,373 on 11/30/21,789 on 11/19/21339 on 11/5/2189,940254.97%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)       C.1.2 (South Africa, July 2021)Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa, November 2021)NoNo
Canada1,802,359(ranked #26)3,48729,757204.71%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 (South Africa November 2021)Yes, except Alberta ProvinceNo
Poland3,67,452(ranked #16)26,96585,1264709.58%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Turkey8,861,386(ranked #6)21,49577,41718710.34%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Russia9,736,037(ranked #5)32,930278,857(ranked #5 in world)1,2176.66%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Argentina5,337,692(ranked #10)2,382116,6394211.65%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Colombia5,076,378(ranked #13)2,299128,685509.82%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Peru2,241,027(ranked #22)1,606201,326(ranked #6)446.665%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Indonesia4,257,243(ranked #14)245143,85881.53%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Iran6,069,559(ranked 8th; was 12th fourteen weeks ago)3,603130,066787.16%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)NoNo
Spain5,202,858(ranked 11th) 13,73888,1593711.12%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Omicron/B.1.1.529 South Africa November 2021)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the fourth time in fifteen 14-day periods. There were 412 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 4,204 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period.  Our infections per day are continuing to rise again over the last 10 weeks, secondary to SARS-CoV-2 mutant Delta/B.1.617.2 and other variants like Mu/B.1.621. The opening of schools, places of worship, bars, restaurants, indoor dining and travel all will contribute to further spread of SARS-CoV-2 mutants, like the Delta, Delta plus, Lambda and the Colombian variant Mu/B.1.621 with continued rising numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Increased vaccinations, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are a part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan will be necessary to stop the spread of mutants and cause reductions in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. On 8/27/21, the United States had 171,125 new infections with one state failing to report (Iowa). There were also 1,761 deaths (with seven other states failing to report deaths). Florida is a persistent reporting failure of daily infections and, particularly, deaths. The number of hospitalized patients is again increasing and 25,749 patients are seriously or critically ill, that number was 24,809 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 949 in the last 14 days, while at least 19,526 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients is increasing for the fifth time in five 14-day periods and an increasingly large number of patients are still dying each day (average 1,395/day). 

As of 9/10/21, we have had 677,017 deaths and 41,741,693 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 2,177,039 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 1,088,519 infections every 7 days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 61 infections reported or 16,219 deaths for each one million infections. As of 8/27/21, twenty-seven states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 33 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Ten states (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 40,000 deaths. On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2).

As of 9/10/21, in the United States, 12.52% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 9 months, over 8% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. 

As of 9/10/21, California was ranked 36th in infection percentage at 11.32%. Tennessee was at 16.46% (ranked #1), Florida was at 16.08% (ranked #2), North Dakota was at 15.98% (ranked #3), Rhode Island was at 15.65% (ranked #4), Arkansas was at 15.64%(ranked fifth), Mississippi was at 15.466% (ranked sixth), South Dakota was at 15.460% (ranked seventh), Louisiana was at 15.32% (ranked eighth), South Carolina was at 15.22% (ranked ninth) and Alabama was at 15.11% of their population infected (ranked tenth). Thirty-two states now have greater than 12% of their population infected and 42 states have greater than 10% of their population infected. Two states have less than 5% of their population infected: Vermont (4.76%) and Hawaii (4.96%). Unfortunately Hawaii reported 747 new infections and 8 deaths on 9/10/21.

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following four variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 9/10/21New Infections on 9/10/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 9/10/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World224,614,354(8,459,105 new infections in 14 days)595,8944,629,069(261,642 new deaths in 14 days)9,6552.88%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates in July 2021)NoNo
USA41,741,693
(ranked #1)		171,125
(ranked #1)		677,017
(ranked #1)		1,76112.52%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Brazil20,974,850(ranked #3)   15,951585,923(ranked #2)7189.78%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
India33,200,877(ranked #2)37,873442,350(ranked #3)3042.57%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOI 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)NoNo
United Kingdom7,168,806(ranked #4; was #6 two weeks ago)37,873133,98814710.49%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)C.1.2 (South Africa)NoNo
California, USA4,345,068(ranked #13 in world)13,46366,62520311.32%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia) NoNo
Mexico3,479,999(ranked #15)14,828266,150(ranked #4)7302.66%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
South Africa2,848,925(ranked #17)5,88384,6082814.73%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Canada1,538,093(ranked #27)4,60427,170364.03%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)Yes, except Alberta ProvinceNo
Poland2,892,642(ranked #16)52875,41787.65%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Turkey6,613,976(ranked #7)23,56250,3842147.74%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Russia7,102,625(ranked #5)18,314                                               191,1657894.86%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Argentina5,221,809(ranked #9)2,816113,28218311.42%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Colombia4,926,772(ranked #10)1,772125,529499.56%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Peru2,159,306(ranked #18)813198,673(ranked #5)526.44%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo
Indonesia4,158,731(ranked #13)5,376138,4313151.50%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Iran5,258,913(ranked 8th; was 12th two weeks ago)21,114113,3804456.16%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)NoNo
Spain4,907,461(ranked 10th) 4,44085,2907210.49%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Mu/B.1.621 (Colombia)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have increased for the fourth time in fifteen 14-day periods. There were 455 more deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 33,548 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period.  Our infections per day are continuing to rise again over the last 8 weeks, secondary to SARS-CoV-2 mutant Delta/B.1.617.2 and other variants. The opening of schools, places of worship, bars, restaurants, indoor dining and travel all will contribute to further spread of SARS-CoV-2 mutants, like the Delta, Delta plus, Lambda and the Colombian variant B.1.621 with continued rising numbers of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. Increased vaccinations, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are a part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan will be necessary to stop the spread of mutants and cause reductions in infections, hospitalizations and deaths. On 8/27/21, the United States had 190,370 new infections with one state failing to report (Idaho, again). There were also 1,304 deaths. The number of hospitalized patients is again increasing (over one million) and 24,809 patients are seriously or critically ill, that number was 17,488 two weeks ago. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 7,321 in the last 14 days, while 13,762 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients is increasing for the fourth time in five 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 983/day). 

As of 8/27/21, we have had 637,161 deaths and 39,540,401 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 2,118,184 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 1,048,494 infections every 7 days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 61 infections reported or 16,525 deaths for each one million infections. As of 8/27/21, twenty-eight states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 33 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Ten states (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 40,000 deaths. On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2).

As of 8/27/21, in the United States, 11.86% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 9 months, over 7% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. 

As of 8/27/21, California was ranked 36th in infection percentage at 10.90%. Rhode Island was at 15.26% (ranked #1), in North Dakota 15.26% of the population was infected (ranked #2), Florida was at 15.01% (ranked #3), Tennessee was at 14.95% (ranked 4th), Arkansas was at 14.79% (ranked fifth) and South Dakota had dropped to sixth at 14.78% of the population infected. Twenty-seven states have greater than 12% of their population infected and 42 states have greater than 10% of their population infected. Two states have less than 5% of their population infected: Vermont (4.43%) and Hawaii (4.21%). Unfortunately Hawaii reported 1,035 new infections on 8/27/21.

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following four variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

Here are the variant data reported to GISAID as of August 28, 2021:

Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID
Source: GISAID

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 8/27/21New Infections on 8/27/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 8/27/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World216,155,249(9,255,653 new infections in 14 days)713,8024,357,427(140,335 new deaths in 14 days)9,9662.77%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) B.1.621 (Colombia & Spain)C.1.2 (South Africa 2% of isolates)NoNo
USA39,540,401
(ranked #1)		190,370
(ranked #1)		653,405
(ranked #1)		1,30411.86%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)B.1.621 (Colombia & Spain)NoNo
Brazil20,703,906(ranked #3)   27,394578,396(ranked #2)7919.66%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
India32,649,130(ranked #2)46,805437,403(ranked #3)5142.33%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)NoNo
United Kingdom6,666,399(ranked #6)38,046132,24310012.35%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)C.1.2 (South Africa)NoNo
California, USA4,171,104(ranked #13 in world)13,78565,03310210.86%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) NoNo
Mexico3,291,761(ranked #15)20,633256,287(ranked #4)8352.52%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
South Africa2,747,018(ranked #17)12,04581,1873614.56%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Canada1,486,437(ranked #26)3,78826,890263.89%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Yes, except Alberta ProvinceNo
Poland2,887,739(ranked #16)25875,33537.63%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Turkey6,311,637(ranked #7)18,34055,7132447.39%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Russia6,844,409(ranked #4)19,509                                               180,0417985.51%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Argentina5,167,733(ranked #8)5,807111,27015311.31%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Colombia4,901,163(ranked #9)2,07814,648819.51%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)B.1.621 (Colombia & Spain)NoNo
Peru2,140,062(ranked #19)1,396197,752(ranked #5)366.38%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Indonesia3,950,304(ranked #14)20,004123,9811,3481.42%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Iran4,616,516(ranked 12th)28,833100,8105555.41%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)NoNo
Spain4,770,453(ranked 10th) 12,45083,13613210.19%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)B.1.621 (Colombia & Spain)NoNo

What Our Team Is Reading This Week

COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2 Update

davidcwrightmd
  • In the last 14 days, the number of COVID-19 infections in the United States has increased by 11,097 infections per day compared to the preceding 14-day period.
  • For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 56 infections reported or 17,856 deaths for each one million infections. 
  • The Delta variant is now the dominant variant in the United States, and recent surges around the country and some vaccine breakthrough cases and deaths have been attributed to Delta. 
  • In Massachusetts, 303 fully-vaccinated patients were hospitalized for COVID-19 and 79 (26%) of these died.
  • As of July 12, the CDC reports that 3,733 fully-vaccinated people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 791 fully-vaccinated people have died of COVID-19 (up from 656 on June 28). 
  • In 49 states, from July 1 to July 8, 19,482 COVID-19 cases in children were reported. In 24 of those states, 130 children were hospitalized with COVID-19 over the same one-week period and 9 children died. 
  • In California, between June 30 and July 14, the California Department of Public Health reported 6 COVID-19 deaths in children. 
  • Worldwide, 6.4 million people were infected with COVID-19 in the 14-day period from 7/3/21-7/16/21. 

It’s time for our next 14-day moving average determinations for SARS-CoV-2 for the United States and my thoughts on vaccines and mutant viruses. We use the WORLDOMETERS aggregators data set to make any projections since it includes data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Military, federal prisons and the Navajo Nation.

In the United States, SARS-CoV-2 deaths have decreased for the twelfth time in a 14-day period. There were 24 fewer deaths per day than in the last 14-day period. In the last 14 days, the number of infections has increased by 11,097 infections per day than in the preceding 14-day period.  Our infections per day are rising again, probably secondary to SARS-CoV-2 mutant Delta/B.1.617.2. I would predict that the opening of schools, places of worship, bars, restaurants, indoor dining and travel all will contribute to further spread of SARS-CoV-2 mutants, like the Delta and Lambda  variants and rising numbers  in infections, hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months. Increased traveling as well as summer vacations, and the July 4 holiday will all cause further increases. Vaccinations, increased mask usage and social distancing, which are a part of the Biden SARS-CoV-2 plan (day 178 of plan) will be necessary to stop spread of mutants and cause  further reductions in infections, hospitalizations and deaths in the future. On 7/16/21, the United States had 40,529 new infections. There were also 293 deaths. The number of hospitalized patients is again increasing and 4,876 patients are still seriously or critically ill. The number of critically ill patients has increased by 1,010 in the last 14 days, while 3,450 new deaths occurred. The number of critically ill patients is increasing for the first time in seven 14-day periods and a large number of patients are still dying each day (average 246/day). 

As of 7/16/21, we have had 624,606 deaths and 34,929,856 SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States. We have had 343,676 new infections in the last 14 days. We are adding an average of 171,838 infections every 7 days. For the pandemic in the United States we are averaging one death for every 56 infections reported or 17,856 deaths for each one million infections. As of 7/16/21, thirty-two states have had greater than 500,000 total infections, and 33 states have had greater than 5,000 total deaths. Ten states (Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, New York and California) have had greater than 20,000 deaths. Four states (Florida, Texas, New York, and California) have had greater than 35,000 deaths. In the world, 44 other countries have greater than 500,000 infections and 43 countries have greater than 10,000 deaths. Sixteen other countries have greater than 35,000 deaths. Two more countries, Columbia and Argentina, join eight other countries with over 100,000 deaths from SARS-CoV-2. Only 2.44% of the world has been infected to date.

On 11/20/20 in the United States, 3.70% of the population had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. California was ranked 41st in infection percentage at 2.77%. In North Dakota 9.18% of the population was infected (ranked #1), and in South Dakota 8.03% of the population was infected (ranked #2).

As of 7/16/21, in the United States, 10.48% of the population has had a documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the last 9 months, 7% of our country became infected with SARS-CoV-2. 

As of 7/16/21, California was ranked 37th in infection percentage at 9.76%. In North Dakota 14.56% of the population was infected (ranked #1), while Rhode Island was at 14.43% (ranked #2) and South Dakota was at 14.10% of the population infected (ranked #3). Thirty-three states have greater than 10% of their population infected and 42 states have greater than 9% of their population infected. Only one state has less than 3% of their population infected: Hawaii (2.75%).

The Threat of SARS-CoV-2 Variants

In a response to the need for “easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatising labels,” at the end of May, the World Health Organization assigned a letter from the Greek alphabet to each SARS-CoV-2 variant. GISAID, Nextstrain, and Pango will continue to use the previously established nomenclature. For our purposes, we’ll be referring to each variant by both its Greek alphabet letter and the Pango nomenclature. 

The WHO has sorted variants into two categories: Variants of Concern (VOC) and Variants of Interest (VOI). The criteria for Variants of Concern are as follows:

  • Increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; or 
  • Increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; or 
  • Decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.  

The WHO categorizes the following four variants as Variants of Concern (VOC):

The criteria for Variants of Interest (VOI) are as follows:

  • has been identified to cause community transmission/multiple COVID-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries; OR  
  • is otherwise assessed to be a VOI by WHO in consultation with the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. 

The WHO categorizes the following six variants as Variants of Interest (VOI):

The two variants of concern that have garnered most of our attention recently are Alpha (B.1.1.7) and Delta (B.1.617.2). Alpha, first detected in the United Kingdom in September of 2020, has been detected in almost every country and all 50 states in the U.S. Up until this week, Alpha was the dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 60-70% of cases in May and early June.  

Source: GISAID

Alpha is more infectious than other previously circulating B2 lineage isolates. There are two deletions and six other mutations in its spike protein. One mutation involves a change of one amino acid, an asparagine at position 501 in the receptor binding motif with a tyrosine. This enhances binding (affinity) to the ACE-2 receptor and may alone be responsible for the increased infectivity of this isolate. A study published March 10 in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) found that the risk of death increased by 64% in patients infected with Alpha compared to all other isolates (known at the time). 

While Alpha continues to pose a threat, the increased prominence of the Delta variant (B.1.617.2), first identified in India, is a concern for several reasons. 

First, there is some evidence to suggest that Delta is more transmissible than other variants, including Alpha. This may be due to a mutation, P681R, near the furin cleavage site, and/or due to a deletion in the N-terminal domain (NTD) of the spike protein. In Australia, public health officials have described a handful of cases where transmission of the Delta variant occurred after “fleeting encounters”— five to ten seconds of close contact between strangers in a public place like a gym or a restaurant. 

Second, Delta leads to more severe infections. According to a recent study in Scotland, “Risk of COVID-19 hospital admission was approximately doubled in those with the Delta VOC when compared to the Alpha VOC.” 

Lastly, there is evidence of reduced vaccine effectiveness with Delta. The variant appears to be particularly evasive in people who have had only one dose of vaccine. A Scottish study estimated the vaccine effect against Delta after one dose to be 30% for the Pfizer vaccine and 18% for the AstraZeneca vaccine. After two doses, it was 79% for Pfizer and 60% for AstraZeneca. 

Considering these factors, it is not surprising that Delta is on track to overtake Alpha (B.1.1.7) as the dominant variant worldwide. In the past month, it accounted for 98.9% of isolations in India, 99% of isolations in the United Kingdom, 95.9% in Singapore, 95.1% in Indonesia, 98.3% in Israel, and 89.9% in Australia. In the United States, Delta has been the dominant variant for about a month; as of July 18, it accounted for 62.2% of isolations in the past four weeks, compared to 41.8% two weeks ago, 12.9% four weeks ago and 3.7% six weeks ago. This suggests the proportion of Delta cases is nearly doubling every week. 

Source: GISAID

Two weeks ago, we warned that with the increased prevalence of Delta, the United States would see rises in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, just as we’ve seen in India, the United Kingdom, and Israel. Over the coming weeks, we’ll see how differing public health responses (or lack thereof) impact these nations and our own. Despite rising case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths, the United Kingdom still plans to end most COVID-19 restrictions, including mask mandates and social distancing, on July 19. 

Israel, by contrast, is taking steps to restrict travel into the country and will criminally charge people infected with COVID-19 who do not follow quarantine rules. Israel also reinstated its mask mandate at the end of June, following two school outbreaks. An estimated 57% of Israel’s population have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. 

The CDC estimates that for the two-week period ending in July 3, the Delta variant made up 57% of US cases. The NY Times reports that nationwide, compared to the previous 14 days, COVID-19 cases are up 140% (compared to 14% two weeks ago). One state getting hit particularly hard by Delta is Missouri, where Delta accounts for 74% of COVID-19 cases. As of July 18, new COVID-19 cases in Missouri were up 102% compared to the previous 14 days, hospitalizations were up 45%, and deaths were up 27%. Some Missouri hospitals have run out of ventilators. The NY Times reports that as of July 18, only 40% of Missouri residents have been fully vaccinated. In the 12-17 age group only 26% have been vaccinated. Missouri never implemented a state-wide mask mandate, and most local mask mandates were lifted at the end of May, along with distancing and capacity restrictions for businesses. All state workers in Missouri were directed to return to in-person work by May 17.  

Other states with significant increases in cases over the last 14 days are Tennessee (+340%), Alabama (+310%), Massachusetts (+291%), Puerto Rico (+249%), Vermont (+244%), California (+198%), Georgia (+193%), Florida (+193%), Louisiana (+176%), and New York (+167%). No state had a decrease in average daily cases over the last 14 days. 

Keeping in mind the potential of variants to evade vaccines, I believe it’s important that we pay attention to instances of vaccine failure. Prior to April 30, 2021, the CDC reported all breakthrough infections. From January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021, there were 10,262 breakthrough infections, 27% of which were asymptomatic and 995 of which were hospitalized. Of the hospitalized patients, 160 (16%) died. 

Between May 1 and June 28, there were 4,686 breakthrough cases reported to the CDC that resulted in hospitalization or death. (The CDC no longer tracks breakthrough cases that do not result in hospitalization or death.) As of June 28, the CDC reports that 656 fully-vaccinated people have died of COVID-19. This means that 496 of those deaths occurred between May 1 and June 28. Whereas the period from January 1 to April 30 had an average of 40 COVID deaths per month in fully-vaccinated people, the period from May 1 to June 28 had an average of 248 deaths per month. This constitutes a 6-fold increase. We can’t say with certainty whether this increase in deaths is related to the rise in prevalence of the Delta variant, but there is certainly a correlation. Delta accounted for less than 1% of cases at the end of April, about 3% at the end of May, and an estimated 51% in the last two weeks of June. 

Between May 1 and July 12, there were 5,492 breakthrough cases reported to the CDC that resulted in hospitalization or death, an increase of 806 from June 28. (The CDC no longer tracks breakthrough cases that do not result in hospitalization or death.) As of July 12, the CDC reports that 3,733 fully-vaccinated people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 791 fully-vaccinated people have died of COVID-19 (up from 656 on June 28). This means that 135 of those deaths occurred between June 29 and July 12. Whereas the period from January 1 to April 30 had an average of 40 COVID deaths per month in fully-vaccinated people, the period from May 1 to June 28 had an average of 248 deaths per month. Now we have an additional 135 deaths in just 14 days. We can’t say with certainty whether this increase in deaths is related to the rise in prevalence of the Delta variant, but there is certainly a correlation. Delta accounted for less than 1% of cases at the end of April, about 3% at the end of May, and an estimated 51% in the last two weeks of June. 

Reporting from around the country suggests that Delta appears to be playing a role in the rise of infections in fully-vaccinated people. In Massachusetts, which has had at least 202 cases of Delta, the Boston Globe reports that 4,450 infections have occurred in vaccinated people. Of these, 303 patients were hospitalized and 79 died (26% of hospitalized, 1.77% of infected). By comparison, 34,929,856 infections have occurred in the United States with 624,606 deaths for a crude death rate of 1.78%.

On July 15, Clark County, Nevada reported 122 COVID-19 hospitalizations in fully-vaccinated people, with 18 deaths (14.7%) among those hospitalized and an additional two deaths of patients who were not hospitalized. The county no longer tracks breakthrough cases in folks who are not hospitalized, but the Southern Nevada Health District previously disclosed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that, as of June 22, there had been 471 breakthrough infections, of which 53 patients were hospitalized, and 8 died. Based on this data, we can estimate the death rate for breakthrough infections in Clark County to be 1.69%. Clark County has also released demographic data for the hospitalized breakthrough cases. In 72% of cases, the patient was over the age of 65; males accounted for 66% of cases. A majority of cases (60%) were in white patients, 15% Black, 12% Hispanic, 7% Asian American or Pacific Islander, 3% other, and 2% unknown. Patients who had received the Pfizer vaccine accounted for 54% of hospitalizations, Moderna 23%, Johnson & Johnson 15%, and unknown 8%. Underlying medical conditions were present in 84% of hospitalized patients, including diabetes (38%), hypertension (54%), chronic lung disease (30%), chronic kidney disease (15%), neurological conditions (10%), immunocompromised (8%), and other conditions (59%). Nevada has had at least 1,066 cases of Delta.

In Illinois, NBC Chicago reports that as of July 14, 563 fully-vaccinated people have been hospitalized with COVID-19, and 151 of those (26.8%) have died. Illinois has had at least 313 cases of Delta. 

In California, between January 1 and July 14, CDPH reports 14,365 COVID-19 infections in fully-vaccinated people, with 843 of these being hospitalized (5.9%). Of the hospitalized, 88 have died (10.4% of hospitalized). This puts the death rate for fully-vaccinated people who become infected at 0.6%. California has had at least 2,871 cases of Delta. 

We want to stress that the COVID-19 vaccines are still highly effective for preventing hospitalizations and deaths. Those who are not vaccinated should get vaccinated as quickly as possible. Folks who are vaccinated should continue to rely on additional layers of protection against COVID-19, like masking indoors and avoiding gatherings. To protect employees and avoid outbreaks, employers should continue to require masking in the workplace. It’s important to keep in mind that the clinical trial efficacy data that we have for the vaccines is based on a population who were most likely masking indoors for the duration of the trial. We should, therefore, assume that the vaccines are most effective when people are also masking. Public health agencies that want to control the spread of COVID-19 should follow the example of Los Angeles County Public Health and institute indoor mask mandates (for both the unvaccinated and vaccinated) as soon as possible. 

Variants of (Slightly Less) Concern

At 2,439 cases, the United States has the second highest number of isolations of the Beta variant (B.1.351, first identified in South Africa), and 6 of these were in the last four weeks. The Beta variant now accounts for only 0.1% of isolations in the U.S.

The United States still has the most isolations of the Gamma variant (P.1) in the world, with 20,645 overall and 697 in the past four weeks. Gamma accounted for 6.4% of isolations in the past month, down from 9.2% two weeks ago. Gamma still accounts for 85.9% of infections in Brazil.

The WHO has also recently labeled the Lambda variant (C.37), which was first identified in Peru in August of 2020, as a variant of interest. The United States has the second largest number of isolations of Lambda, after Chile, with 706 total and 32 in the past four weeks. Lambda causes over 80% of infections in Peru, which experienced a surge in new cases this spring and, as of July 17, has had 2,093,754 infections and 195,146 deaths. Strangely, some South American countries (Peru, Colombia) have stopped reporting new isolations of Lambda to GISAID. 

COVID-19 in California

The following data were reported by the California Department of Public Health:

Total CasesNew CasesTotal DeathsNew DeathsHospitalizedIn ICUFully Vaccinated
6/4/213,687,7361,04762,179871,06226017,662,712
6/5/213,688,8931,15762,242631,04224317,813,305
6/6/213,689,9941,10162,4702281,03522117,947,342
6/7/213,690,86887462,47331,01121918,011,744
6/8/213,691,66079262,47961,01522818,100,412
6/9/213,692,50684662,499201,03023118,240,912
6/10/213,693,36285662,538391,00123418,431,265
6/11/213,694,4981,13662,5935598223318,542,484
6/12/213,695,5301,03262,508-8595524018,637,504
6/13/213,696,47294262,512491524118,694,365
6/14/213,697,29982762,505-793923918,731,215
6/15/213,697,92762862,5151097725118,875,034
6/16/213,698,62669962,5341998124218,970,053
6/17/213,699,45582962,5653195623219,074,396
6/18/213,700,7501,29562,6225795123319,164,548
6/19/213,702,2371,48762,661391,27119,164,548
6/20/213,702,88264562,689281,24919,164,548
6/21/213,704,0051,12362,693492923819,343,396
6/22/213,704,64063562,701894924319,398,536
6/23/213,705,42778762,7414097828719,454,555
6/24/213,706,8461,41962,8228195527419,541,124
6/25/213,708,8612,01562,8906895927419,621,174
6/26/213,711,9283,06762,9596995927419,621,174
6/27/213,712,79586762,9903195927419,621,174
6/28/213,714,0511,25662,994498029019,880,275
6/29/213,714,81376262,99951,05028819,941,886
6/30/213,710,4542,01363,023241,08930720,014,043
7/1/213,712,1521,69863,096731,09030020,073,302
7/2/213,713,9441,79263,141451,07129520,073,302
7/3/213,715,3771,43363,165241,07129520,073,302
7/4/213,716,8101,43363,189241,07129520,073,302
7/5/213,718,2431,43363,213241,07129520,073,302
7/6/213,719,6741,43363,238241,15329820,240,207
7/7/213,721,0061,33263,259211,22829920,296,653
7/8/213,722,4221,41663,317581,31931820,371,928
7/9/213,724,8332,41163,376591,34312120,417,009
7/10/213,727,8032,97063,408321,34312120,417,009
7/11/213,730,7732,97063,440321,34312120,417,009
7/12/213,733,7432,97063,472321,48434120,518,392
7/13/213,736,9993,25663,47861,59435720,562,625
7/14/213,740,0923,09363,508301,64835920,615,554
7/15/213,743,7143,62263,533251,73137920,664,238
7/16/213,748,3654,65163,598651,77040320,705,050

*Data for 7/3/21-7/6/21 and 7/10/21-7/12/21 were reported in bulk on 7/6/21 and 7/12/21, respectively. We’ve divided the new cases evenly among those days. 

An examination of cases broken down by age group reveals that the 18-49 age group continues to have the highest rate of infection. There was a marked increase in new daily cases in this age group from July 8 to July 16, with moderate increases for the other three age groups. 

Despite the availability of vaccines for children 12 and up, in California, we have not seen a marked decrease in the number of new cases in children over the past two weeks. From July 3 to July 16, the 0-17 age group averaged 369 new infections per day, a 33% increase compared to the previous 14-day period. (The daily average for June 19-July 2 was 276.) As of July 14, the California Department of Public Health reports 7 deaths in children under the age of 5 (an increase of 3 since June 30) and 21 deaths in children ages 5-17 (an increase of 3 since June 30). To date, 490,318 children in California have been infected with COVID-19. The US Census Bureau estimates that there are 8,890,250 children in California, so approximately 5.5% of children have had a documented case of COVID-19.

Watching World Data

Over the next few months, we’ll be paying close attention to correlations between the SARS-CoV-2 data, the number of isolates identified in various countries and states, and the non-pharmaceutical interventions (like mask mandates and lockdowns) put in place by state and national governments. Data on infections, deaths, and percent of population infected was compiled from Worldometers. Data for this table for SARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in Location was compiled from GISAID and the CDC. It’s worth noting that GISAID provided more data than the CDC.

LocationTotal Infections as of 7/02/21New Infections on 7/02/21Total DeathsNew Deaths on 7/02/21% of Pop.InfectedSARS-CoV-2 Isolates Currently Known in LocationNational/ State Mask Mandate?Currently in Lockdown?
World190,270,873(6,453,915 new infections in 14 days)562,8174,091,488(111,620 new deaths in 14 days)8,6532.44%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)A lineage isolateV01.V2 (Tanzania)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) NoNo
USA34,929,856
(ranked #1)		40,529
(ranked #4)		624,606
(ranked #1)		29310.48%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)BV-1 (Texas, USA)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Brazil19,308,108(ranked #3)   45,591(ranked #3) 540,500(ranked #2)1,4509.01%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
India31,063,987(ranked #2)38,112(ranked #5)413,123(ranked #3)5602.22%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)APTK India VOC 32421Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)NoNo
United Kingdom5,332,371(ranked #7)51,870(ranked #2)128,642497.81%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
California, USA3,748,365(ranked #11 in world)4,65163,598659.76%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Zeta/P.2 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru) NoNo
Mexico2,525,350(ranked #16)12,288235,740(ranked #4)2352.01%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
South Africa2,269,179(ranked #17)15,93966,3854133.77%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Canada1,422,641(ranked #25)39526,489173.73%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)Yes, except Alberta ProvinceNo
Poland2,881,241(ranked #14)9375,205147.62%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Turkey5,514,373(ranked #6)6,91850,450356.46%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Russia5,907,988(ranked #4)25,704                                                 148,8687994.04%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)NoNo
Argentina4,737,213(ranked #8)17,261101,15846310.38%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Gama/P.1 (Brazil)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Colombia4,601,355(ranked #9)17,893115,3335008.94%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Peru2,090,175(ranked #19)2,032194,935(ranked #5)906.24%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Lambda/C.37 (Peru)NoNo
Indonesia2,780,803(ranked #15)54,00071,5971,2051.00%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Theta/P.3 (Philippines) Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo
Iran3,485,940(ranked 13th)21,88586,7911994.09%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)NoNo
Spain4,100,222(ranked 11th) 31,06081,096128.76%B2 lineageAlpha/B.1.1.7 (UK)Delta/B.1.617.2 (India)Beta/B.1.351 (SA)Gamma/P.1 (Brazil)Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 (USA)*Eta/B.1.525 (Nigeria/UK)Iota/B.1.526 (USA-NYC)Kappa/B.1.617.1 (India)NoNo

*Also referred to as CAL.20C

SARS-CoV-2, Children, and MIS-C/PIMS

I’m pleased to see that COVID-19 cases and MIS-C (PIMS) cases in children in the US are finally getting national attention. The CDC now tracks total MIS-C cases and deaths in children and young adults up to 20 years old in the United States. As of June 28, CDC reported 4,196 cases of MIS-C that meet the case definition and 37 deaths—that’s 178 new cases and one new death since the June 2 report. The CDC notes, “As of October 1, the number of cases meeting the case definition for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in the United States surpassed 1,000. As of February 1, this number surpassed 2,000, and exceeded 3,000 as of April 1.” This means it took seven months to reach 1,000 MIS-C cases, only four months to reach an additional 1,000 cases, and only two months to add an additional 1,185 cases. This suggests to us that variants are causing more MIS-C. 

Date of ReportingTotal MIS-C PatientsChange Since Last ReportTotal MIS-C DeathsChange Since Last Report
6/28/20214196+17837+1
6/2/20214018+27636+1
5/3/20213742+55735-1
3/29/20213185+56836+3
3/1/20212617—33—

Schools in the United States have been open throughout the pandemic, with teachers and education support professionals demonstrating their extraordinary ability to adapt in adverse circumstances. Teachers all over the country reinvented their teaching, taking their classrooms online in order to provide safe and remote learning experiences for students. The so-called “reopening” of schools, which more accurately refers to the opening of school buildings, as schools never closed, has been highly politicized, with many governors issuing mandates for in-person instruction, even as case counts, hospitalizations, and deaths in their states rose exponentially. The CDC has maintained that transmission risk in schools is minimal, provided that adequate safety measures are taken; however, we know that many states have not properly enforced universal masking (and some have repealed mask mandates), and we know that many school facilities are not equipped with the proper air handling systems. With more school buildings opening, there is a growing body of research that suggests that COVID-19 transmission can and does happen in schools. 

After recommending for months that school buildings be open, in mid-February (a year into the pandemic), The American Academy of Pediatrics, in collaboration with the Children’s Hospital Association, finally began tracking data on COVID-19 in children at the state and national level. Data reporting by states is still voluntary, and every state is different in its willingness to collect and disclose data on infections, hospitalizations, deaths, and testing rates in children. 

As of the APA’s July 8 report, only 11 states provide age distribution for testing. This makes it difficult to hold states accountable for testing each age group in proportion to its population. We’ve seen a trend in states where testing data with age distribution is available that children are tested at lower rates than adults. Test positivity rate among children ranged from 4.9% to 34.9% and children made up between 6% and 19.9% of total state tests in the 11 states that report testing data to APA. 

Hospitalization data by age group is only available in 24 states and New York City, so we only understand the severity of COVID-19 infections in children for about half the country. From July 1-8, 103 more children in these states were hospitalized with COVID-19. 

Age distribution for cases is provided by 49 states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Age distribution for deaths is provided in 43 states, New York City, Puerto Rico, and Guam. It’s worth noting that New York State does not provide age data for cases, testing, hospitalizations, and deaths. Two states, Florida and Utah, only report cases in children aged 0-14, so the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in children ages 15-17 is unknown in these states. As of June 30, the state of Nebraska no longer reports daily COVID-19 data and has taken down its online COVID-19 dashboard. 

In the week from July 1 to July 8, 19,482 COVID-19 cases in children were reported. The current case in children is 5,400 per 100,000. By comparison, according to Worldometers, the overall case rate per 100,000 people in the United States on July 18 was 10,498 cases per 100,000. As of July 8, children represented 14.2% of all COVID-19 cases reported to APA. A total of 344 child deaths due to COVID-19 were reported in 43 states; this is an increase of 9 child deaths since July 1. The following states do not report child mortality due to COVID-19: Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia. 

The AAP has also recently recommended that all children older than 2 years and all teachers and school staff wear masks in school, regardless of vaccination status. 

If we truly want to keep children safe, especially as many school buildings open for in-person instruction, we need to collect more complete data in every state on child testing rates, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Vaccinating America’s Children

The New York Times reports that nationally, 56.6% of people 12 and up are fully vaccinated, while 59.3% of people 18 and up are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. Only 48.4% of the total population is fully vaccinated. According to the CDC, at the current pace, it will take another year to get 85% of people 12 and older fully vaccinated. 

Some states are falling far behind when it comes to getting children—and the general population—fully vaccinated. Alabama and Mississippi have only fully vaccinated 34% of their population. Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have fully vaccinated more than 60% of their population, with Vermont having the highest vaccination rate at 67%. California has fully vaccinated 52% of their population. 

The Road Ahead

President Biden has made the pandemic a first priority and has now ordered enough vaccines to vaccinate everyone who wants a vaccination by the end of this month. As of 7/7/21, the CDC reports that 182.8 million people (approximately 55.1% of the population) have had one dose of any vaccine. 157.9 million people (47.6% of the population) are fully vaccinated. The rate of people who are fully vaccinated has increased by less than 3% in the past two weeks. 

As of May 10, all people in the U.S. over the age of 12 are eligible to receive a vaccine. The Biden administration has already exceeded its goal of administering 200 million doses of vaccine in the first 100 days of the administration. The Pfizer-BioNtech is already approved for ages 12-15 and the Moderna vaccine should be approved in June 2021. Moderna has applied for emergency use authorization to administer their mRNA vaccines to children aged 12-15. Testing is ongoing for children in younger age groups and may be approved for ages 2-11 by the end of September 2021. 

Testing, wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands frequently should no longer be political issues. These are non-pharmaceutical interventions used by most successful countries and some states to protect their citizens and their economies. New Zealand, Taiwan, and Australia are three countries that have done this successfully. In the United States, Hawaii is doing a better job handling the pandemic than many of our states. These interventions and vaccination should keep the pandemic from overwhelming our health care delivery systems world-wide. New mutations like Epsilon/B.1.427 + B.1.429 and the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants will probably spread rapidly throughout the United States over the next 90 days as many states (ex. Texas, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Wyoming and South Carolina) open up everything and do away with masking and social distancing. We will probably see increased new infections per day in the United States. In the UK, Alpha/B.1.1.7, has increased the number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths. This and other mutants may do the same thing in the USA.

The Pfizer and Moderna RNA vaccines and the Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccination adenovirus vaccine are all being used to immunize people in the USA. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and the Novavax vaccine may be available in the fourth quarter of 2021. 

The bad news is that all currently available vaccines are based on the spike protein sequence identified in China in December 2019. Mutated isolates, as discussed above, may overtake our ability to produce new vaccines and vaccinate the populace. Like Influenza vaccines, we may have to reformulate vaccines based on active, worldwide surveillance at least every 4 to 6 months. The FDA is currently putting together a guidance document for how to develop booster vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 mutations. A surrogate marker of protection like antibody to the mutated Receptor Binding Domains of SARS-CoV-2 should be considered for vaccine approval. 

The ideal approach to addressing the major mutations on at least five continents would be to make vaccines against each of the mutations. I’d get all of the vaccine companies and contract production companies on a call and “suggest” that two companies at least make and mass produce one of the four mutations. The government would pay the cost and buy at least 200 million doses in advance for each variant at say $40 a dose. The total cost to purchase the vaccine (800 million doses) would only be 32 billion dollars. Give each company a billion dollars each for development costs (another 8 billion dollars). Spend another two billion dollars for syringes and you’ve got enough booster doses to vaccinate 200 million people for all 4 variants. 42 billion dollars would be a small price to pay to catch up with the current mutations. Even if you had to do this every two years, it would be well worth the dollars spent. 

We are not doing adequate numbers of PCR or antigen detection assays in the United States. According to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, in January of 2021, we were doing up to 2,307,949 tests per day. In March 2021, the highest number of tests per day was 1,709,210, and in April, the highest number of tests per day was 2,008,319. Currently, we’re doing 665,774 tests per day (7-day moving average).

We still need to perform more virus isolations and perform more DNA sequencing of viruses in each country, state, populous city, and county if we are to rapidly identify new mutations. In December 2020, WHO asked countries to increase their sequencing rates, and the European Commission asked member states to set a goal of 10%. The CDC then set a goal of 5% for the United States. As of July 18, according to GISAID, the United States had a SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing rate of 1.89%, whereas the United Kingdom had a genome sequencing rate of 10.7%. I’m more hopeful that we will have the facilities, the equipment, and the trained staff needed to perform this work. As a nation we still need to make and distribute more vaccines to other countries, new vaccines directed against mutants, and the necessary rapid tests and protective equipment needed by medical staff, first responders, essential workers and especially teachers and students. I’m still hopeful we can work together on our and the world’s infectious disease problems. 

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