COVID-19 Update

The outbreak of the Coronavirus caused by SARS-CoV-2 happened in December 2019. The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Wuhan, an industrial city in China. From that time it spread globally and by March 2020 more than 95000 people were infected worldwide. There have been various theories surrounding the origin of the virus but now that it has been over a year since the worldwide prevalence of the virus, scientists and researchers are more focused on ending the spread. Here is a timeline of all the COVID-19 related updates, news, and findings for you to be more aware of everything that is impacted by the Coronavirus around the world since its outbreak.

June, 2022

• June 29: Covid-19 cases are rising again in 110 countries. Only 75% of health workers have been vaccinated whereas only 58 countries have achieved the goal of vaccinating 70% of the population. 
• June 23: According to a study in The Lancet, the use of vaccination aerated 19.8 million deaths during the first year of its rollout. It’s estimated that more deaths could have been prevented if people in low-income countries had been vaccinated. 
• June 17: Intellectual property barriers around patents for COVID-19 vaccines have been removed temporarily in a decision on TIPS waiver by the World Trade Organization.
• June 8: In sub-Saharan Africa, hospitalized pregnant women with Covid-19 faced more complications than non pregnant women who had equally severe Covoid-19 symptoms.    
• June 2: Institut Pasteur Dakar in Senegal is operationalizing a new facility for manufacturing of vaccines against Covid as well as other diseases. In a bid to fast track the process, European Investment Bank has planned to lend $80 million to the institute.     

MAY, 2022

• 31st May: Only 58 countries have vaccinated 70% of their population up till now, meeting the global target which was set for the end of June. 
• 25th May: Pfizer will provide patented medicines and vaccines at a not-for-profit price to lower income countries. 
• 23rd May: According to the World Economic Forum, the co-occurrence of pandemic and Ukraine war might eradicate the gains of the last thirty years. 
• 22nd May: The pandemic has given rise to depression and anxiety disorders globally, as reported by WHO director. 
• 20th May: Seven leading industrial nations came together under a pandemic pact to improve the pandemic surveillance and establish a swift mechanism for coordinated response. 
• 17th May: Experts say that the world is still stuck with the old ways and systems that were introduced back in 2019 to fight against Covid-19. Should it face another threat of covid wave in the coming years, the world will be majorly in the same place as it was in 2019.
• 12th May: In an attempt to enhance pandemic response, leaders from across the globe committed about 3.1 billion dollars in the second global Covid-19 summit. 
• 5th May: According to WHO, almost 15 million people died collectively due to the pandemic. This number includes all those patients who died due to Covid infection as well as those who died due to the wider impacts of Covid on health systems and society. 
• 4th May: WHO states that those antivirals which are highly effective in treating Covid cases may not be accessible to the low and middle income countries. Countries may be going against their decision of buying these antivirals due to their high prices and low availability. 

APRIL, 2022

• 28th April: Due to the disruption caused by Covid-19 pandemic in the health system, routine immunization services have faced severe impact leading to suspension of vaccination drives. This situation has caused a drastic rise in measles cases, almost up to 400%. 
• 26th April: Covid-19 testing has fallen by 70% to 90%, which has made it difficult for the global health community to evaluate the current pandemic situation and evolution. 
• 22nd April: For the first time, WHO recommends Pfizer’s antiviral drug Paxlovid for high-risk Covid patients who may develop severe disease and get hospitalized. 
• 15th April: As reported by Africa CDC, South Africa’s Aspen Pharmacare might stop Johnson’s & Johnson’s Covid-19 production. 
• 5th April: South Africa officially ends the state of emergency that came into effect two years ago due to Covid-19 pandemic. 

MARCH, 2022

• 24th March: Many countries are facing storage and access issues when it comes to administering vaccine shots. People’s unwillingness to get vaccines and limited workforce is also contributing to the fact that many continents are yet to reach a significant percentage of the vaccinated population. 
• 22nd March: A new pharmaceutical company has launched its operations in Boston, Lausanne, Massachusetts, and Switzerland. The company will focus on discovering and developing new therapeutics for Covid-19 and all of its variants. 
• 17th March: The Medicine Patent Pool comes under an agreement with 35 companies of 12 different nations to work on Pfizer’s oral antiviral treatment for Covid-19.
• 10th March: The Lancet reports that the total number of people who died from Covid may be three times as many as officially reported. 
• 9th March: The US President Biden seems to be facing difficulty in meeting his commitment of donating more than a billion Covid cases by September’s end. 
• 7th March:  Kenya becomes the planned site to establish the first manufacturing facility for messenger RNA vaccine. Moderna is planning to invest up to 500 million dollars and expects to produce a batch of 500 million vaccine doses per year. 
• 3rd March: WHO announced Monupiravir to be an effective treatment for non severe cases of Covid-19. However it is further advised to not use the drug for children as its safety data is not enough to ensure its safety. 

FEBRUARY, 2022

• 24th February: COVAX completes one year of delivering its first shipment of Covid-19 vaccines. 
• 23rd February: WHO announced to set up a new biomanufacturing training hub in South Korea in an attempt to boost local pharmaceutical production. 
• 18th February: WHO has announced to give messenger RNA vaccine producing tools to Egypt, Kenya, Senegal, Tunisia, Nigeria, and South Africa. 
• 3rd February: The Africa CDC is now focusing more on promoting self testing and vaccine acceptance among the youth population to fight against increasing Covid cases.
• 2nd February: Africa has been able to fully vaccinate only 11% of its population
• 1st February: 83 countries still remain who still have not reached the 40% target for the vaccinated population. 

JANUARY, 2022

• 25th January: 90 million cases have been reported since the time of Omicron detection and the total number of deaths has reached a very alarming high in most regions. 
• 20th January: Africa suffered a loss of 2.8 million vaccines, amounting to 0.5% of the total vaccines the continent received. Eleven countries have come together to produce the COVID-19 antiviral treatment molnupiravir under an agreement signed by the Medicine Patent Pool. Africa saw a decrease in its Covid-19 cases by 11 %. 
• 19th January: The rapid spread of the omicron variant has prompted countries to promote self testing. In light of this, the US government launched a website where people can order up to four at-home rapid test kits for free. 
• 16th January: COVAX delivered the 1 billionth COVID-19 vaccine dose. 
• 14th January: WHO recommended two additional drugs; one is baricitinib while the other one is sotrovimab. The former drug is to be given to patients with severe or critical condition while sotrovimab should be given to moderate to patients with moderate to mild Covid infections. 
• 12th January: South Asia reported an increase of 418% which was the largest. The Americas faced an increase of 78% while the European Region saw a 31% increase.
• 9th January: From November to January, the share of parents claiming that their children have been vaccinated with at least one shot has increased significantly. Six in ten parents of teenagers mostly claimed their children have been vaccinated. The covid-19 cases amounted to 304 million and total deaths reported were 5.4 million.
• 8th January: All regions reported a sharp increase in the cases, but the regions of Americas faced the largest increase which was 100%. According to CDC, the subvariant Omicron BA.2 accounted for four-fifths of Covid19 cases.
• 6th January: Where the cases increased by 71%, the number of new deaths decreased by 10%. The total number of cases reported till 6th January were 9.5 million while new deaths reported were 41 thousand.  
• 2nd January: From 27th December 2021 to 2nd January 2022, the world saw a sharp increase in total Covid cases as compared to the cases that were reported in the previous weeks. As of 2 January, the total number of cases around the globe is 289 million.

DECEMBER, 2021

• December 31:Over 2,093 new instances of COVID-19 have been found in the past 24 hours alone, an increase over the previous day. This year, a total of 11,078 instances have been reported. The previous week has seen an average of 16,160 new cases each day, for a total of 16,160 new cases every day. This is an increase over the previous week. COVID-19 has been identified in individuals of all ages, including children and the elderly. The typical age of the patients is between 30 and 40 years. The median age of death in the US is projected to be 82 years.
• December 29:As of December 29, 2021, the WHOhas received reports of about 52.5 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the US. Every state has been hit, with a disproportionate number of cases being reported in California, Texas, and Florida, and it has impacted all 50 states.
• December 25:COVID-19 continues to infect millions of people and causes havoc on the economy. Additionally, COVID-19 claimed almost 5.5 million lives. The number of confirmed cases and deaths is highest in the United States.
• December 23: Pfizer Inc.’s antiviral COVID-19 tablet has been approved for use in patients 12 years of age and older who are at risk of acquiring a serious sickness or infection. According to Pfizer clinical studies, an antiviral regimen named Paxlovid is around 90% effective in reducing hospitalizations and fatalities in patients at high risk of severe disease. Additionally, it is prepared to begin immediate distribution in the US, despite the fact that its production plan for 2022 has been increased from 80 million to 120 million drug courses.
• December 20: The public health profession is warning that a winter spike in influenza activity caused by both the delta and omicron strains of the virus might have devastating consequences. Over the preceding week, hospitalizations climbed by almost 3% across the country, while deaths soared by roughly 7%. However, the rate of increase is far faster in certain regions than in others.
• December 18: The US is now experiencing an average of 121,707 new Covid-19 cases every day. Despite the fact that the new case rate remained stable (at 3%) last week, it remains at levels last seen in September. Each week, a new incident was reported in New York. The US is seeing an average of 1,286 fatalities every day. This is an increase of 8% over the previous week. There are now 68,847 patients getting Covid-19 therapy in hospitals. For more than two months, inpatient admissions have been increasing, and the current rate is around 40% higher than a month ago. Around 80% of available critical care beds are projected to be filled, with one in every five (20%) of those patients being a Covid-19 patient. Each day, around 1.8 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine were delivered. More than half of those doses were boosters, and the CDC reports that around 407,000 individuals get their first dose of immunization each day.
• December 15: Since the epidemic began, the virus has infected more than 98 million individuals and claimed the lives of more than 2.3 million people.
• December 14:The Omicron variant spreads rapidly. California has reinstated the need for indoor masks in public venues. The number of reported cases in California has increased by 47 percent as of Thanksgiving. Additionally, the new masking regulation would apply to around half of the state’s population, which now resides in counties without a comparable requirement.
• December 13:around Around 800,000 individuals have died in the United States. Since the coronavirus’s discovery, at least 800,156 people have died. The number of fatalities climbed in 33 states. The overall number of infections has exceeded the 50 million mark. The Omicron seems to be quickly expanding. The number of viral cases has topped 50 million. Masks are needed to attend indoor public areas that do not require evidence of immunization in New York State.
• December 12: Coronavirus-related deaths in the US hit the 800,000 milestones. The report comes as the nation prepared for a probable outbreak caused by increased inside time owing to colder weather and the highly transmissible Omicron strain of the virus. This year, the virus has claimed more lives than it was in the whole year 2020, despite widespread and easy access to vaccinations. This is mostly due to the existence of the virus’s more virulent Delta variant and the unwillingness of some individuals to get COVID-19 vaccination. Since the beginning of the year, the COVID-19 outbreak has claimed over 450,000 lives in the US, accounting for 57% of all COVID-19-related fatalities in the country.
• December 11:The infection has been estimated to have afflicted 49,833,439 people in the US. The death rate was estimated to be 796,792 persons. The US has the largest overall number of COVID-19 deaths in the globe, with the most COVID-19 fatalities documented of any country. The WHO estimates that the nation is responsible for around 14% of all known COVID-19 fatalities and 19% of all COVID-19 cases globally. Each day, the number of new infections in the US averaged more than 120,000, with Michigan reporting the most cases.
• December 10: Following a week of escalating infections in the US, the number of diseases in the nation hit an average of nearly 120,000 per day this week, the highest level since September. Despite the finding of the new omicron type in more than 25 states, the delta version remains the most prevalent cause of infections and hospitalizations. Around 5.3 million individuals have died as a consequence of Covid, increasing the total to 269.6 million cases. Over 8.37 billion injections are expected to have been administered. Omicron directs the US booster drive. US officials have widened the age range for COVID-19 vaccination booster shots to include 16- and 17-year-olds due to worries about the newly discovered Omicron strain of the virus. The virus’s new Omicron strain has been discovered. Approximately 43 COVID-19 cases have been linked to the Omicron variation in the US, the majority of which occurred in people who were completely vaccinated, with a third of them receiving a booster dose. Increased from the previous week’s record of 432.9 new positive cases, the past seven days have seen an average of 603.9 new positive cases. Positive test results increased to 9.2 percent on average during the previous seven days. This is an increase from the previous week’s 8%. The overall number of hospitalizations this week was 317, up 51 from the previous week; the number of critically sick patients was 33, up to one from the previous week. COVID-19 claimed a total of 2,211 lives. Since the beginning of the week, a total of 17 COVID-19 fatalities have been recorded.
• December 9: 50,442,410 new cases while 813,904 deaths are reported. The number of people recovered as of December 9 is 39,815,866.
• December 8: Demand for COVID-19 booster doses is at an all-time high, as millions of people seek vaccines in the wake of the discovery of a new Omicron coronavirus strain. Official numbers show that just less than a million individuals got booster doses of one of the three vaccinations permitted last week, the highest rate since September when US regulators approved extra injections for certain adults.
• December 7:The FDA has updated the SARS-CoV-2 Viral Mutations web page with the latest up-to-date information. Additional information on SARS-CoV-2 tests whose performance may be impacted by genetic changes in SARS-CoV-2, particularly those identified in the omicron type, observed in patient samples was also provided in the update. Currently, the FDA has granted 425 tests and sample collection equipment. With home-collected material, 67 molecular authorizations and one antibody authorization are available for use.
• December 6:197,449 new cases were reported while 58,384 people were hospitalized due to the infection. 71.7% of the population is reported to be fully vaccinated.
• December 5:While the Omicron form of the coronavirus has spread to almost a third of the states in the US, the Delta variant is still responsible for the majority of COVID-19 infections as instances spread throughout the nation. Omicron has been detected in at least 16 states. Although the booster shot status of some patients was not disclosed, the bulk of the cases occurred among fully vaccinated persons who presented with minor symptoms. During the previous seven days, the United States has seen an average of 119,000 new cases every day and has lost roughly 1,300 people to COVID.
• December 4: The number of new cases is 40,629,770 while a total of 813,904 deaths occurred. 39,815,866 patients recovered from the infection.
• December 3:Health officials discover around 95,000 cases. Over 55,000 coronavirus patients have been admitted to hospitals throughout the nation, a considerable drop from the previous month but a 15 percent spike in the last two weeks. Current outbreaks are being fueled by the highly transmissible Delta strain, which is still prevalent. Scientists in many states have uncovered instances of the Omicron virus strain in recent days. Approximately 60% of Americans have obtained all recommended vaccines. Immunizations are more effective in avoiding severe Covid-19 instances of the Delta type. Despite the fact that scientists are looking at the influence of the Omicron variant on vaccine efficacy, health officials have reiterated their advice that individuals are vaccinated and, if eligible, get a booster dosage.
• December 2:The new cases reported were 146,810 while 1554 deaths were recorded as of December 2. 1,137,942 tests were conducted out of which 100,471 were found to be positive. In regards to the SARS-CoV-2 version (VOC), Delta is still the most common VOC in the region. The first Omicron case was reported. President announces new initiatives against Delta as well as Omicron variants. The appearance of the Omicron variant has heightened the need for booster immunizations. According to Biden’s suggestion, overseas travel restrictions should be tightened and access to at-home testing should be expanded.
• December 1: 131,585 new cases were recorded as of December 1 while a total of 1751 deaths were reported. Following the discovery of the Omicron COVID-19 version, the government strengthened the travel restrictions. To fly into the nation, all passengers must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of their scheduled departure time. Vaccine recipients may now obtain a negative test within three days of their arrival. Additionally, 3-5 days following their arrival, travelers will be subjected to testing. In order to enhance the number of people who are eligible for COVID-19 booster doses, the Department of Health has increased the criteria for who is eligible. Booster injection appointments may be scheduled online.

NOVEMBER, 2021

• Total cases for the month of November were recorded to be 49,198,746 while the number of deaths is 787,064.  However, a total of 473,243,228 vaccinations were administered in the entire month.
• November 30: On November 30, the FDA authorized the use of twenty antigen tests and nine molecular assays in serial screening programs. Furthermore, the FDA has approved 696 amendments to EUA authorizations, allowing them to be put to the test in the future.
• November 29: The new cases reported on November 29 were 102772.
• November 28: As of November 28, the US recorded the largest number of new cases i.e. 464 800 new cases.
• November 27: The COVID-19 vaccine is safe for pregnant women and is not linked to an increased risk of problems during pregnancy as announced on November 27.
• November 26: As of November 26, the total number of COVID-19 cases confirmed worldwide has surpassed 260 million. The overall number of confirmed dead has surpassed 5.18 million for the first time. About 7.81 billion vaccine doses have been delivered worldwide.The number of people eligible for COVID-19 booster doses has increased in the US, with millions of people receiving their third dosage last week. Pfizer and MSD agreed to offer licenses to enterprises to develop COVID-19 therapy tablets. The FDA has renewed the EUA, enabling people with COVID-19 symptoms to utilize the CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test as a single test without a prescription. Patients with or without symptoms might utilize the test as a serial test, and it could be done without a prescription. For people who acquire COVID-19 symptoms during the first five days of symptom onset, there is just one test available. If no symptoms are present, a serial test is performed, which comprises repeating the test twice over the course of three days. The findings of the InBios SCoV-2 Ag Detect Rapid Self-Test are available in about 20 minutes.
• November 25: 68366 new cases were reported as of November 25 the number was found to be reduced as compared to the previous days as for November 24 and 23, the number of new cases was 105316 and 101709, respectively.
• November 22: the FDA authorized three COVID-19 antigen diagnostic tests for persons aged 14 and up who submit a nasal swab sample taken by themselves, as well as children aged 2 and up who submit a nasal swab sample collected by a parent or caregiver.
• November 20: COVID-19 hospitalization rates among children aged 5 to 11 years are still high as of data presented on November 20 by CDC. Almost one in every three children hospitalized with COVID-19 was admitted to an ICU or placed on a ventilator. Despite the fact that children with existing medical disorders are at a higher risk of acquiring more severe sickness from COVID-19, the research found that more than half (45%) of hospitalized children had no known underlying medical illnesses. These findings suggest that COVID-19 may have a negative impact on children.
• November 19: it was established that COVID-19 is usually milder in children than it is in adults, but it may still make them very unwell, requiring hospitalization or, in extreme cases, death. Children aged 5 and above are now eligible to get an age-appropriate dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which will aid in their protection. It is also critical to immunize youngsters in order to prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 and to put the pandemic to a conclusion.
• November 18: the FDA accepted an abbreviated new drug application for vancomycin hydrochloride injection, which is intended to treat serious or severe infections caused by susceptible methicillin-resistant strains of bacteria. The FDA recognizes that demand for certain commodities has increased as a consequence of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
• November 15: A total of 143777 new cases were reported on November 15.
• The weekly trend of new cases continues to grow, with roughly 3.3 million new cases recorded for the week of November 8–14. The US saw an increase in new weekly cases compared to the previous week, while the rest of the world had constant or dropping trends. The number of new cases reported was 550 684 new cases with an increase of 8%.
• November 10: According to a statement made on November 10 by Merck and its partner Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, the US government plans to acquire an additional $1 billion worth of COVID-19 tablets in the future. It has been stated that AstraZeneca would be establishing a new vaccine and antibody treatment company. COVID-19 vaccine research and development, as well as coronavirus research and development, will be the division’s primary areas of concentration. Moderna filed an application to the European Medicines Agency for approval of its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years old today, only weeks after the US postponed a similar proposal for the same age range. Moderna is a Swedish vaccine manufacturer.
• November 8: California has the greatest number of COVID-19 cases. About 46 million cases have been documented in the US, with the biggest numbers coming from California, New York, Texas, and Florida.
• November 7: 22085 new cases have been identified on November 7.
• November 6: the number of new cases reported was 31939. The number of people being hospitalized due to the infection was 41733 while 11731 people were in the intensive care unit.
• November 5: The number of fully vaccinated individuals is 192,198,248 while the number of individuals who received one dose was 223,245,120 as of November 5. On November 5, 2021, the CDC reported 79,444 new cases of COVID-19. The FDA has approved 419 tests and sample collecting equipment. The FDA has accepted 677 modifications to authorizations so that they may be put to the test. As of November 5, 58.3% of the people i.e. corresponding to 192,198,248 were fully vaccinated while 67.8% received one dose. The number of hospitalized individuals as of November 4 was 42.75.
• November 3: 12,500,302 doses had been administered, and 6,061,042 residents, workers, and students had received a full immunization schedule. MMA started to provide booster shots to the previously immunized individuals as per the instructions of the FDA. 58.2% of the population was fully vaccinated as of the stats of November 1 while 67.6% had received one dose.
• November 1: The total number of cases reported on November 1 was 17, 036 while the number of deaths estimated was 155.

OCTOBER, 2021

 

• October 31: The total cumulative COVID-19-related hospitalization rate was 207.1 per 100,000 people for the week ending October 31, 2020. When age was taken into account, the rate of hospitalization for Hispanic or Latino persons was about 4.3 times that of non-Hispanic White people. Non-Hispanic American Indians had hospitalization rates around 4.2 and 4.1 times higher than non-Hispanic White people. 18883 new cases were diagnosed on October 31. The proportion of respiratory specimens positive for SARS-CoV-2 rose throughout the country from 7.2% to 8.2%. The total proportion of visits to outpatient providers for COVID has increased. Adults aged 18 and above have had the greatest overall increases, due to a rise in rates. The proportion of mortality has decreased but remains over the epidemic threshold.
• October 29: the FDA has approved 421 tests and sample collecting equipment.
• October 28: 33 countries/territories in the Region have detected 325,344 SARS-CoV-2 infections among pregnant women as of October 28, 2021, with 3,237 fatalities recorded in 33 countries/territories. There have been 8 220 confirmed cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents connected to COVID-19, including 160 fatalities. In the case of health workers, a total of 2,176,474 cases have been reported with 11,840 fatalities.
• October 27: there are sixteen antigen tests and nine molecular tests that are authorized by the FDA for use in screening programs.
• October 26: Various regions detected all four identified variants of concern as of October 26, 2021.
• October 23:  there have been 243,327,429 confirmed cumulative cases recorded globally, with 4,943,742 fatalities, with the Americas Region accounting for 38.2% of confirmed cases and 46.1 percent of deaths. The North America sub region accounted for the majority of cases (76%) and fatalities (72%). The number of reported cases climbed by 5.7% in South America. The number of fatalities reported rose in North America (11.7%) and Central America (7.9%), but declined in South America.
• October 22: The FDA has approved 419 tests and sample collecting equipment as of 22 October. There are 292 molecular tests and sample collecting devices, 89 antibody and other immune response testing, and 38 antigen tests among the available assays. With the exception of the antibody authorization, home-collected samples are eligible for 66 molecular authorizations and one antibody authorization. The FDA has approved the use of sixteen antigen testing as well as eight molecular assays in screening programs. It has authorized a total of 657 chances to EUA authorizations.
• October 18: 16,894 new cases were reported on October 18 with 149 deaths. Vaccination rates have been steadily increasing as more hospitals throughout the country implement COVID-19 vaccine requirements for their employees. Following President Biden’s decision last month that the vast majority of those receiving Medicaid or Medicare financing must vaccinate their personnel, a larger number of healthcare facilities are anticipated to follow suit. During the first two weeks of October, the weekly percentages of fatalities due by the infection climbed.
• October 15: The number of new cases as of October 15 reached 93,111 while the fatality count was 1541. 
• October 13: 116,484 new cases were found on October 13 while the number of deaths estimated was 2117.
• October 10: As of October 10, the coronavirus has killed 215,000 people. The number of total recovered patients was 46790 as of October 10. 248 new cases of Covid were diagnosed between 9 and 10 October.
• October 7: More than 7.5 million individuals have been infected with the illness, and 210,000 individuals have died as a result of it as of October 7. As of October 7, the FDA wrote a letter to health care professionals advising them to offer clear, step-by-step instructions to patients self-collecting anterior nasal samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing while at a healthcare facility. If patients are not given clear instructions, they may be unable to acquire a sufficient sample for testing, lowering the test’s sensitivity. A number of actions were taken by the FDA as part of its continuing reaction to the COVID-19 epidemic The FDA has awarded a new research contract to learn more about how the virus that causes COVID-19 affects different bodily systems and to look for immunological connections. This regulatory science study might help with the development and testing of COVID-19 therapeutic countermeasures that are currently being researched.
• October 3: The proportion of fatalities caused by COVID-19 has decreased somewhat but remains over the epidemic threshold of 7.0% as of October 3. The percentage of visits to providers increased in those aged 50 to 64 years, while remaining stable in the other age groups. SARS-CoV-2 was found in respiratory specimens in 5.2% of the examined individuals on October 3. The percentage of positive individuals climbed somewhat among those aged 5-17 years and 65 years and older. The FDA has authorized the use of sixteen antigen tests and eight molecular assays. A total of 65 molecular authorizations and one antibody authorization are permitted to be used in home-collected samples. The FDA has authorized 412 tests and sample collecting. A total of 289 molecular tests and sample collection devices are offered.
• October 2: 56% of the population has been entirely vaccinated as of the 2nd of October, with approximately 65% having gotten at least one dosage 120,487 new cases of Covid-19 were reported on October 2 while the number of deaths recorded was 1896. That number is still significantly more than the 10,000 cases per day. While national hospitalization rates have been down in recent weeks, several states, notably those in the south, defied the trend and reported significant increases. The US continues to lead the globe in COVID-19 infections and fatalities, accounting for 19% and 14% of all known infections and deaths, respectively.       
• October 1: The number of coronavirus-related fatalities reached 700,000 on October 1. The country has averaged over 2,000 fatalities per day over the previous week, which is around 60% lower than the January peak.

SEPTEMBER, 2021

• September 30: The total number of cases is 43,154,898 to date. Around 691,801deaths from Covid-19 have been recorded up till now.
• September 28: As of September 28, there are 104,903 new cases reported.
• September 26: About 685 thousand fatalities were reported among those afflicted. The overall number of confirmed and probable positive cases of COVID-19 illness has reached 42.8 million as of September 26. 74.9 percent of those aged 12 and above had received at least one dose of vaccine, with 64.3 percent receiving all the doses.
• September 23: As of September 23, around 212,564,346 people received one dose of vaccination while 182,587,334 people were fully vaccinated. The current seven-day moving average of new deaths has risen by 0.7 percent when compared to the previous seven-day moving average i.e. 1,557.
• September 22: 680,688 COVID-19 fatalities have occurred as of September 22. A 7-Day moving average of 387,821,704 was estimated for vaccines administered. Total 42,501,643 cases were reported as compared to 146,684 prior average. The average of new cases per day (121,533) as of September 22 is 17.1% lower than the previous seven-day moving average. Delta remains to continue to be the most frequent variation with a circulation rate of more than 98 percent.
• September 18: The Delta type is responsible for more than 98 percent of all reported cases on September 18. The Delta type is now the only one in the US that has been designated as a concern variation.
• September 16: The average number of tests conducted in the seven days between September 10 and September 16, was 1,649,785, an increase of 11.9 percent over the previous seven-day average of 1,474,550 tests. Over a seven-day period, the percentage of positive tests increased to 7.6 percent on average. In contrast to the previous week’s findings, the proportion of positive COVID-19 tests has dropped. Daily averages of 9,636 had been recorded for hospitalization, from September 15 to September 21 indicating a 14.4% drop as compared to the previous week. Daily averages of 11,255had been recorded for hospitalization, between September 8 and September 14.
• September 11: 73,926 new cases were reported in September 11.
• September 9: On September 9, the FDA revised the guidelines. The guideline provides broad recommendations to potential generic drug applicants regarding the development and filing of drug products. The FDA approved 622 changes to EUA authorizations. The FDA has approved 14 antigen tests and 8 molecular tests for use in serial screening programs. There is now one prescription at-home molecular test available, three prescription at-home antigen tests, seven OTC at-home antigen tests, and two OTC molecular tests. There are 62 molecular authorizations that may be utilized with samples gathered at home. There are 287 molecular testing and sample collecting devices, 88 antibody and other immune response tests, and 34 antigen tests available.
• September 8: On September 8, the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was authorized.
• September 7: The FDA on September 7 has approved 409 tests and sample collecting equipment for use.
• September 3: The FDA approved a new drug application on September 3 for dexmedetomidine injection.
• September 1: 1,647,149 tests were conducted for Covid-19 on September 1. 166,362 tests were found to be positive indicating the rate of 10%.210,995 new cases of Covid infection were reported on September 1. The percent ratio of the test remains the same between September 2 and 8.

AUGUST, 2021

• Four additional COVID-19 fatalities have been confirmed, bringing the total number of deaths to 206. 
• 210 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection have been discovered, with 60 patients in critical care units also infected.
• 115 additional cases of COVID-19 were reported on August 31, increasing the total number of cases to 18,336.
• The US has seen an average of more than 100,000 new cases each day over the last twelve days.
• COVID-related hospitalizations are likely to rise further.
• COVID-related hospitalizations have risen by about 70% in the last two weeks, causing a patient backlog in hospitals.
• Following the reemergence of the threat, US officials have begun to speed up the response procedure.
• There were only around 67 000 additional deaths recorded this week.
• A little less than 4.4 million new cases were reported, keeping the total number of new cases reported steady.
• The FDA also certified a total of 619 modifications to EUA authorizations.
• For use in serial screening programs, the FDA has approved 14 antigen tests and eight molecular assays.
• There are 287 molecular tests and sample collecting devices available on the list along with 88 antibodies and immune response testing in addition to 34 antigen tests.
• The FDA has authorized 409 tests and sample collection equipment for use in combination with EUAs.
• On August 30, the FDA requested help from veterinarians and retailers in conveying critical safety information to consumers about the potentially fatal misuse.
• FDA has released a list of states, territories, and US jurisdictions where the antibodies are presently authorized, as well as a list of states, territories, and US jurisdictions where these are not now approved.
• On August 27, the FDA approved monoclonal antibodies.
• There have been 612 changes to EUA authorizations that have been approved by the FDA.
• For use in serial screening programs, the FDA has approved 13 antigen testing tests and eight molecular assays.
• The FDA announces the availability of 283 molecular testing and sample collection devices, 87 antibody and other immune response assays, and 33 antigen tests available.
• The FDA has granted EUA for a total of 403 tests and sample collection equipment.
• The amendment was done to enable the shelf life of Vaccines to be extended from six to nine months.
  On 24 August, the FDA amended the Pfizer-BioNTech emergency use authorization (EUA).
• On 23 Aug, FDA granted full clearance to Pfizer/COVID-19 BioNTech’s vaccine.
• Individuals aged 16 and above are granted permission; with children, aged 12 to 15 granted emergency authorization.
• Doctors and nurses on the United States’ Gulf Coast are being stretched to their limits as a result of an upsurge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Delta strain.
• A state of emergency has been declared owing to a regional lack of ICU beds.
• According to the WHO, as of 20 August 2021, there were 210,112,064 confirmed COVID-19 cases globally, with 4,403,765 fatalities, with the Region of the Americas accounting for 39 percent of cases and 47 percent of deaths.
• South America had the highest monthly case count (54.6 percent) and mortality rate (79.8 percent) in the Americas Region.
• Indigenous peoples in 18 nations throughout the Americas have documented 604,264 incidents, including 15,027 fatalities.
• COVID-19 has been linked to 7,030 cumulative confirmed instances of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and adolescents (MIS-C), with 138 fatalities among children and adolescents.
• As part of their ongoing efforts to safeguard consumers, the FDA issued a warning letter to Mahita, on August 19, accusing the company of marketing unapproved goods that made unsubstantiated COVID-19 claims without FDA approval.
• In celebration of “National Immunization Awareness Month,” the FDA held a stakeholder conference call on August 13 to discuss vaccines for younger children and adolescents in preparation for the next school year.
• The FDA has authorized 13 antigen testing and eight molecular assays for serial screening programs.
• The FDA approved 402 tests and sample collection equipment for use in emergencies.
• There are 282 molecular tests and sample collection devices available, as well as 87 antibody and other immune response tests and 33 antigen tests.
• Despite the fact that the worldwide coronavirus epidemic is in its second year and worries about vaccine safety have subsided, governments continue to struggle to vaccinate their people in order to build herd immunity inside their own countries.
• As a consequence of the reopening of schools in many places, an increase in domestic and international travel, and an overall lack of concern for physical distance, mask-wearing, and other public health precautions, new variants are emerging.
• Only 60.2 percent of Americans aged 12 and older are completely immunized against COVID-19.
• 3 US senators tested positive for Covid-19 despite vaccination, bringing the total number of members of Congress reporting recent sickness to at least six.

JULY, 2021

• By July 2nd the overall vaccination rate for adults is hovering around 57% nationwide. According to CDC officials reported that 1,000 counties have a COVID-19 vaccination rate under 30%
• The rapid spread of the delta variant has prompted new and occasionally contradictory guidance on mask use in many areas.
• New research from an ongoing University of Arizona Health Sciences study finds that in rare breakthrough COVID-19 cases, vaccines still provide protection.
• In July 2021, 469 COVID-19 cases were found among Massachusetts people in connection with many summer festivals as well as large public gatherings in Massachusetts.
• A total of 69 percent of eligible Massachusetts residents received their recommended vaccinations.
• Three-quarters (74 %) of the incidents happened in individuals who had received all of their vaccinations (those who had finished a two-dose course of mRNA vaccine).
• The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, was found in 119 (89 percent) of the 133 people who tested positive for the Delta variant.
• 79% of immunized people who had a breakthrough infection were symptomatic.
• Four of the five COVID-19 individuals hospitalized were fully immunized; no deaths were reported.
• On July 27, the CDC recommended that everyone, including those who are fully vaccinated, wear masks in indoor public places where COVID-19 transmission is high or significant.
• This recommendation is based on the risk of infection associated with attendance at large public gatherings that include travelers from a variety of areas with varying levels of transmission.
• Between July 3 and July 17, 2021, a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, held a series of summer festivals and other public activities that drew thousands of visitors from around the country.
• Residents of Barnstable County have been reporting an increase in COVID-19 infections since July 10, according to reports received by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH).
• Individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 said that they attended crowded indoor and outdoor gatherings at pubs, restaurants, guest homes, and rental properties.
• On July 3, the “Massachusetts Department of Public Health” reported a 14-day average COVID-19 incidence per day among Barnstable County inhabitants
• As of July 17, the 14-day average among town inhabitants had risen to 177 instances per 100,000 persons per day.
• When the state’s COVID-19 monitoring system was used to analyze travel history data between July 10 and July 26, the “Department of Public Health” identified a cluster of illnesses among inhabitants of the state between July 10 and July 26.
• Additional instances were discovered via case inquiry by local health jurisdictions.
• On July 15, the Department of Public Health issued the first of two “Epidemic Information Exchange alerts” aimed at identifying further cases among citizens of states outside Massachusetts who visited the town in Barnstable County in July 2021.
• The CDC conducted an audit of this activity and determined that it was conducted in accordance with relevant federal law and CDC policy.
• By July 26, 469 COVID-19 cases had been identified with positive specimen collections.
• COVID-19 patients presented with symptoms compatible with the disease.
• The FDA has relaxed cold storage requirements for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, allowing doses to be stored at standard refrigerator temperatures for an extended period of time.
• The US recorded an average of slightly more than 30,000 new coronavirus infections during a seven-day period, a 17 percent drop from the previous week and similar to rates at the start of last summer.
• On the other hand, testing has decreased by 44%.
• Over 586,000 people have been killed in the country as a consequence of covid-19.
• According to statistics from “Johns Hopkins University,” the United States recorded at least 51,842 new cases, the third consecutive day with a daily high of over 50,000 cases.
• California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida all reported new coronavirus infections at record levels, with Florida reporting almost 9,500 more cases.
• Texas added 7,555 additional instances after two days with about 8,000 apiece.
• Florida has an average of 7,870 new cases each day, more than any other state.
• Health authorities’ concerns are particularly pertinent in light of new studies indicating that the virus has evolved to become more contagious.
• Worldwide research discovered compelling evidence that a novel coronavirus strain entered the United States from Europe.
• According to an international team of researchers, the new mutation boosts the virus’s probability of infecting people but seems to have no adverse effect on patients compared to previous versions.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Health confirmed an additional 215 coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 1,212,776 statewide.
• Coronavirus has claimed 27,705 lives, an increase of ten fatalities.
• New cases have risen by 90% in the United States.
• According to a New York Times database, more than 53,000 new coronavirus illnesses were recorded daily in the United States.

JUNE, 2021

• A new study published on June 28 found evidence that the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna may provide lasting protection against the disease.
• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) started a study on June 25th on how the COVID-19 vaccines affect people who are pregnant. 
• The FDA announced on June 24th that it will add a warning to mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. due to the rare side effect of heart inflammation.
• It was announced on June 23rd that the highly contagious delta variant is the “greatest threat” to the nation’s push to eliminate COVID-19.
• According to new data published on June 22nd, the highly transmissible delta variant is likely to become the dominant coronavirus variant in the U.S. within a few weeks.
• According to the data published by CDC on June 21st, about 45% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
• The CDC has declared the delta variant of the coronavirus (B.1.617.2), first detected in India, a variant of concern (VOC) on June 17th.
• The WHO announced on June 16th that the delta variant of the coronavirus is now circulating in 80 countries. 
• A study of AstraZeneca’s antibody cocktail (AZD7442) published on June 15th found that the treatment was only 33% effective at preventing symptoms of COVID-19 in people exposed to the virus.
• By June 15th, the US reported over 600,000 deaths related to COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. While the number of new cases has been dropping recently due to an increase in vaccinations, there are still on average a few hundred deaths each day from the coronavirus.
• Drug manufacturer Novavax announced on June 14th that its COVID-19 vaccine was 90% effective against the coronavirus and its variants in phase 3 clinical trials conducted in the United States and Mexico.
• The CDC called an emergency meeting on June 11th to discuss the heart inflammation issues that have been reported with some Pfizer and Moderna vaccinations.
• The FDA has announced on June 11th that it’s extending the expiration date on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from 3 months to 4.5 months.
• A US surgeon made a statement on June 10th, that people who are unvaccinated are more at risk of contracting a dangerous variant of the coronavirus. He specifically cited the B.1.617.2, or Delta, variant that was first identified in India.
• Officials at Moderna asked the FDA on June 10th to give their vaccine emergency use authorization for people over the age of 12.
• A new study published on June 9th shows that Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine initiates multiple immune responses, making it highly protective not only in the U.S. but also in Brazil and South Africa, where different coronavirus strains are circulating.
• Pfizer announced on June 8th that it will begin testing its COVID-19 vaccine in a larger group of children under 12 years old. The drugmaker already determined a lower dose in an earlier stage of the trial. 
• A new study published by CDC on June 8th,  found that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduce infections by up to 91%. And in rare breakthrough infections, people reported far less severe symptoms of COVID-19.
• The director of CDC made a statement on June, 4th, recommending teens to get vaccinated and that the parents who have questions should speak to their child’s health providers, local pharmacists, and health departments. 
• By June 2nd, Twelve states had 70% of their adult population at least partially vaccinated, according to data from the CDC.
• The 7-day average of COVID-19 cases in the first week of June was 15,900 cases, according to the CDC. The last time the U.S. averaged under 16,000 cases was in early March 2020, just as the pandemic was first sweeping through the country.

• Moderna asked the FDA on June 1st,  for full U.S. approval of its COVID-19 vaccine. It has become the second drugmaker in the U.S. to pursue a biologics license that will allow it to market its vaccine directly to consumers.
• On June 1st, WHO announced that it will now label key variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, with names that are easy to say and remember. The organization plans to use letters of the Greek alphabet

MAY,2021

• In a survey published by PwC on May 28th about 70% of people in the U.S. favor vaccine verification while traveling by plane or staying in a hotel.
• On May 26th CDC announced that it’ll no longer investigate mild cases of COVID-19 in people who are vaccinated. Breakthrough cases of COVID-19, where a vaccinated person develops the illness, are extremely rare but not unexpected.
• Experts are turning their focus to vaccinating young Americans against COVID-19. They warn that even though young people do not face a high chance of serious illness, they still risk long-term symptoms if they develop the infection.
• In a statement released on May 25th officials at Moderna say that their COVID-19 vaccine is effective among adolescents. In phase 2 and 3 study, no teen who was fully vaccinated ended up developing COVID-19.
• On May 24th India became the third country after Brazil and the U.S. to surpass 300,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• The WHO announced on May 21st that the death toll from COVID-19 may be two or three times higher than reported.
• The CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said on May 19 that the health officials expect to have more data regarding COVID-19 vaccination and younger children by late fall
• On May 19th India set a new global record for the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day. At least 4,529 deaths were reported bringing the country’s total death toll to over 280,000.
• The Financial Times reported on May 19th that AstraZeneca’s adenovirus COVID-19 vaccine works well as a third booster dose.
• By 18th May Over 60% of adults in the U.S. have gotten at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC and over 154 million people over the age of 18 have received one dose.
• According to Rochelle Walensky, the Director of CDC, over 600,000 children between the ages of 12 and 15 were vaccinated the 2nd week of May.
• The CDC announced on May 17 that it’s safe for fully vaccinated 12- to 15-year-olds to remove their masks in most settings. But there are no COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use among children under 12 in the U.S., meaning that this age group still needs to wear masks.
• A new study published in JAMA has provided further evidence that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for pregnant women. The women given the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna had robust protection against the virus that causes COVID-19, according to the research.
• The CDC announced new mask guidance on May 13th for people who are vaccinated against COVID-19. Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks in most indoor areas. However, masks are still recommended in certain crowded indoor places, like public transit.
• CDC Director Rochelle Walensky announced on May 11th, that the CDC is planning to prepare COVID-19 vaccine booster shots “just in case” they are needed.
• On May 7th, the FDA authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children as young as 12. This is the first vaccine to be authorized for children under age 16. Experts say getting children vaccinated may be key for the U.S. to reach herd immunity.
• In the first week of May, The WHO approved for emergency use a COVID-19 vaccine made by China’s state-run pharmaceutical company Sinopharm.
• In a new announcement shared in the first week of May, Pfizer and BioNTech stated that they’ll seek full approval from the FDA for their COVID-19 vaccine. Currently, the vaccine is approved under Emergency Use Authorization. Getting the full FDA approval will likely take several months.
• According to Moderna, human trials show that those given a third booster shot after receiving their two-dose vaccine had increased immune response to the COVID-19 strains initially identified in South Africa and Brazil.
• Health experts are finding that people may be more at risk for developing diabetes after recovering from COVID-19. DR. Ziyad Al- Aly said on May 6th that he was surprised when his team told him how often diabetes occurred in survivors of COVID-19.
• One dose of either the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine was nearly 87% effective in preventing COVID-19 among those ages 60 and older, according to real-world data released by South Korea on May 5
• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said on May 4th that children now account for more than one-fifth or about 22% of new COVID-19 cases in states releasing data by age.
• India has now become the second country to top 20 million COVID-19 cases. Cases have been surging in that country, leading to a spike in deaths.
• According to data published at the start of May, Russia had more than 400,000 death between last April and this March during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of excess deaths is defined as the difference between the observed number of deaths and the expected number of deaths during a certain time period.

APRIL, 2021

• On 26^th April, India broke the global daily Covid-19 case record for a fifth straight day, with more than 350,000 new infections reported, as hospitals face oxygen shortages.
• Hospitals in New Delhi, India ran out of oxygen as the country recorded the highest ever daily rise in cases worldwide for the second day in a row on 23^rd April.
• On 23^rd April, vaccine advisers to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted Friday to recommend resuming the use of the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine.
• India reported the 6th consecutive day of over 200,000 new Covid-19 cases on 20^th April.
• On 20^th April, Argentina received 800,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik-V coronavirus vaccine as the country experiences a spike in new cases.
• On April 8^th, India reported more than 200,000 new Covid-19 cases for the first time, taking the country past 14 million total infections.
• Vaccine advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have scheduled a meeting for April 23 to take up the question of whether Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen coronavirus vaccine causes blood clots.
• On 14^th April, the FDA advised states to pause the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after a rare blood-clotting issue affected 6 women.
• On April, 8^th India reported more than 126,000 new Covid-19 cases in another daily record as several states warned they face a shortage of vaccines.
• Countries around the world have announced changes to their vaccination programs after UK and EU regulators found a possible link between AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine and very rare blood clot cases. Both regulators stressed the vaccine’s benefits continue to outweigh the risks.
• According to Canadian officials, new variants have likely replaced the original Covid-19 virus in many parts of Canada.
• India had administered more than 4.3 million Covid-19 vaccine doses in a day on April, 6^th.
• Panama authorized the emergency use of the Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine in the first week of April.
• The United Kingdom’s medicines watchdog identified 30 cases of rare blood clots in people who have received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in the first week of April.
• According to the U.S Food and Drug Association, It’s ok to squeeze more doses out of vials of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine.
• US drug maker Johnson & Johnson announced in April that it would begin vaccinating children as young as 12 in the company’s ongoing Phase 2a clinical trial of its Covid-19 vaccine.
• At the start of April, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced that it has agreements with 20 manufacturers in 10 different countries to produce its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.
• According to officials, more than 100 million people in the US had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of April, 2^nd.
• Starting April 5, Alabama allowed Covid-19 vaccinations for 16 and older.
• The Netherlands halted the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in April for those under 60.
• On April 2^nd West Virginia expands Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to residents 16 and older.

MARCH, 2021

• On 25^th March, AstraZeneca updated its data on how well its Covid-19 vaccine works, saying the vaccine showed 76% efficacy against symptomatic disease.
• Five US states have expanded Covid-19 vaccine eligibility to anyone age 16 and older and at least 22 more plan to do so by the end of April.
• The safety board of the United States of America expressed concern about AstraZeneca including outdated information in its latest vaccine trial announcement.
• The Biden administration will loan about 4 million of its AstraZeneca vaccine doses to Canada and Mexico as the company awaits official usage approval in the US.
• According to the World Health Organization, global COVID-19 cases increased for the fifth consecutive weeks.
• By the end of March, Nearly 1 in 4 people in the US have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC.
• On 22^nd March, AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine showed 79% efficacy against symptomatic disease in a US-based clinical trial.
• The investigation conducted by the European Union’s medicines regulator found that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe but a blood clot link cannot be ruled out.
• On March 19^th, many European countries, including France and Germany, restarted their AstraZeneca rollouts.
• On 15^th March, Netherlands suspended the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
• By the mid of March China had administered nearly 65 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
• In the mid of March, most European countries like Germany, France, and Italy suspended the use of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine following reports of possible side effects.
• According to the latest analysis from the Israel Ministry of Health, Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine prevents asymptomatic COVID-19 and death. 
• According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March, early Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine trial data shows antibody response after 8 days.
• According to the World Health Organization, Africa has recorded nearly 4 million Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began.
• On 11^th March 2021, the European Commission approved the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine, which is the fourth licensed vaccine to be authorized in the European Union.
• Some European countries suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine while the European Union’s medicines regulator investigated whether the shot could be linked to several reports of blood clots.
• Vaccine maker Moderna says it hopes to have results on a COVID-19 vaccine booster by May.
• According to CDC’s data published on March 11^th,  1 in 10 people in the US have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• Biotechnology Company Novavax expected to see results from its PREVENT-19 trial, a Phase 3 study of its COVID-19 vaccine in the United States and Mexico, sometime in April.
• The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) announced on 9^TH February, that the vaccine production of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine will begin in summer 2021 in Europe
• According to research published in a peer-reviewed journal, The coronavirus variant B.1.1.7, which was first identified in the United Kingdom, is associated with an estimated 64% higher risk of dying from COVID-19
• According to health officials, coronavirus variant first identified in New York, B1526, “is a more infectious variant” and coupled with the variant first identified in the UK, accounts for 51% of all cases in New York City at present.
• Ukraine approved the use of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine according to Ukraine’s Deputy Health Minister Igor Ivashchenko on 10^th March
• According to a study published on 10^th March 2021, in the journal PLOS ONE, rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD in health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic were significantly higher than what’s expected in the general public
• Moderna who was making efforts to boost its vaccine capabilities announced on 10^th March, that the first participants have received its modified Covid-19 vaccines, designed as potential boosters to address emerging virus variants.
• In the first week of March, Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose coronavirus vaccine, the third Covid-19 shot authorized for use in the US.
• On 3^rd March, Kenya received more than 1 million Covid-19 vaccines as part of the World Health Organization’s global COVAX program.

FEBRUARY, 2021

• FDA reported in an analysis report that the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine meets the requirements for emergency use authorization and is another step towards the authorization of a third shot for the United States.
• Moderna announced on 24^th Feb, that it has designed an updated version of its Covid-19 vaccine to help it combat the South Africa coronavirus variant
• According to infectious disease experts, coronavirus variants will likely drive a new wave of transmission in the US in the coming spring.
• Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline said on 22^nd Feb 2021, that they had begun a Phase 2 trial of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate, and if results are positive, a Phase 3 study could start in the second quarter of 2021.
• Novavax, a biotechnology company, announced on Feb 22^nd, that it has completed enrollment of its PREVENT-19 trial, a Phase 3 study of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States and Mexico.
• By the end of February, About 66.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the US from which about 1.5 million were administered in New York City.
•  By the end of February, the US had surpassed 500,000 COVID-19 deaths.
• A study published towards the end of February suggests Smell and taste may not return for up to 5 months after COVID-19 infection
• Pfizer-BioNTech said On Feb, 19^th that it has submitted new data to the US Food and Drug Administration to show that its Covid-19 vaccine can be stored at warmer temperatures.
• Johnson and Johnson announced on Feb 19^th that it had applied WHO authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine. An emergency use listing would make the vaccine available in more than 190 countries.
• The leaders of the G7 countries of the world met towards the end of February virtually and pledged an additional $4 billion to the ACT accelerator and COVAX vaccine initiatives, reiterating their resolve to work together to beat Covid-19.
• On February 19^th, Pfizer announced that it’s further expanding its COVID-19 vaccine production capabilities by adding a facility in Kansas.
• On February 15^th, Australian regulators granted provisional approval for the AstraZeneca vaccine.
• As of February 11^th, more than 3.03 million children in the US had tested positive for COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic
• According to the federal health officials, once authorized, the rollout of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine will be slower than anticipated due to miscommunication over the production timeline
• The Sputnik vaccine was approved for use in Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Argentina, Bolivia, Algeria, Venezuela, Paraguay, Turkmenistan, Hungary, UAE, Iran, Guinea, Tunisia, Armenia, and the Palestinian territories and had been administered to more than 2 million people worldwide by February.
• According to the World Health Organization, the use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recommended for adults over 18 and in countries where new variants were circulating.
• According to the chief medical officer, Dr. Anthony Fauci, about 20,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated against COVID-19 by February and there were “no red flags” in their reactions to the vaccine.
• The White House Covid-19 response team announced on February, 10^th, would be building three new mass vaccination sites in the state of Texas.
• According to the  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention double masking can significantly improve protection against COVID-19
• The US federal authorities started investigating the distribution of counterfeit 3M N95 masks sold to hospitals and medical facilities nationwide.
• The B.1.1.7 variant of the Coronavirus which was first identified in the UK, started spreading in the United States quite rapidly
• According to a British health expert, British analysis has shown that the South African coronavirus variant is more transmissible than other variants
• According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, as of February, 4^th, about 2.93 million children in the US have tested positive for COVID-19, since the start of the pandemic
• According to the CDC, more than 42 million Covid-19 vaccine doses were administered in the US by the start of February.
• According to CNN’s analysis, new Covid-19 cases among nursing home residents and staff have dropped more than 50% since January.
• According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, cases of influenza has decreased significantly in the US in 2021 due to public health measures meant to protect against Covid-19
• The US government officials said that COVID-19 testing is required for even domestic travel.
• On February 8^th, Pfizer said it had increased its production to eventually double the output of its COVID-19 vaccine.
• AstraZeneca says its Covid-19 vaccine shows limited protection against the variant first identified in South Africa, and a new version of its vaccine to tackle this will be available in autumn.
• The British officials have an approach of having longer gaps between the first and second doses of vaccine, which is praised by the World Health Organization. WHO has also said that the rest of the world should take lessons from this approach.
• In the first week of Feb, COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the US outnumbered new cases with the ratio being 10 to 1.
• The University of Oxford says the AstraZeneca vaccine is effective against the UK COVID-19 variant.
•  According to the Transportation Security Administration, violators of the federal transportation face mask requirement face a $250 fine that increases for subsequent violations.
• According to United Kingdom officials, it will vaccinate people over 50 by May
• The World Health Organization said it would release its recommendations for versions of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine made in India and South Korea on February, 15^th
• In the first week of February the first case of the Brazilian COVID-19 variant was detected in the Madrid region.
•  According to Moderna the United States government will be receiving one million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine by the mid of February.
• Houston Health Department announced on 5^th February 2021 that it will be focusing on the supply of COVID-19 vaccine in vulnerable populations and underserved communities
•  By February 2021 the United States had administered 36,819,212 doses of COVID-19 vaccine out of the 58,380,300 doses distributed, which was 63% of the total distributed
• According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, a COVID-19 variant which was first found and recognized in the United Kingdom could become a dominant variant in the United States

JANUARY, 2021

• There’s was an increasing dispute and disagreements between the European Union and AstraZeneca over the delays to vaccine deliveries by the company.
• Johnson & Johnson’s trials of its single-shot vaccine showed 66% efficacy in global trials, but 85% efficacy against severe disease.
• Towards the end of January more than 26 million people have been vaccinated in the US, according to CDC
•  According to the biotechnology company Novavax, its COVID-19 vaccine shows 89.3% efficacy UK Phase 3. But still, its efficacy against new variants had alarmed the politicians.
• On January 28^th, 2021, Africa received 400 million additional doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is in addition to the 270 million Coronavirus vaccines received by the African Union on January 14^th.
• An experimental coronavirus vaccine made by biotechnology company Novavax released new data towards the end of January which doesn’t look promising as it indicates some problems protecting against one new variant of coronavirus circulating in South Africa.
• On January 28^th, 2021, The US detected its first cases of a more contagious coronavirus strain first seen in South Africa. The variant has been detected in more than 30 other countries, according to the World Health Organization.
• Pfizer has said on January 26^th that it has started working on vaccine boosters against new variants of COVID-19
• A new variant of the COVID-19 virus called P.1 was been detected in the United States for the first time in the last week of January, in a traveler from Brazil. P.1 is one of four variants being closely monitored by the officials at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on 25^th January 2021, about 6% of the US population had received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
• According to Israeli data, about 0.01% of a large group of people who received two doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine tested positive for coronavirus after their second shot. Maccabi Healthcare Services found that out of about 128,600 people who received two doses of the vaccine, around 20 were infected and later tested positive just about a week after their second dose.
• Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine was used to vaccinate Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández, who also reaffirmed the safety and efficacy of the vaccine
• According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, new variants of the Coronavirus had worsened the spread
• On 21s January, the USA reported more than 1 million COVID-19 shots in a day for the second time since the vaccines have been authorized. The last time it happened was on 15^th January when more than 1.1 million doses were administered in a day.
• As the season started to change at the end of January, the CDC recommended people of America not get flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines together. They have recommended a 14-day gap between getting a COVID-19 vaccine and then any other vaccine.
• The Centers for Disease Control said on 21^st January 2021 that it may be okay to mix and match Covid-19 vaccines in exceptional and difficult situations. While it is advised to not use the two authorized vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech) interchangeably, it may be okay to get one dose of each to complete both doses. This was mainly advised because of the concerns surrounding vaccine supply and distribution of both Pfizer/BioNTech’s and Moderna’s vaccines.
• According to the CD, the US could reach half a million deaths due to COVID-19 by the mid-February
• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there’s no maximum time between a first and second coronavirus shot. People should not wait longer than the recommended time to get the second dose of the vaccine
• According to the CDC, Abbott’s BinaxNOW Rapid antigen Covid-19 test can miss positive cases, especially among people with no symptoms, also referred to as asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.
• According to Johns Hopkins University data, the US has surpassed 400,000 coronavirus deaths on 19^th January 2020.
•  The USA reported at least 72 new cases according to the CDC with a new COVID-19 variant which was initially identified in the United Kingdom. These cases were found in 10 US states. This included at least 32 cases in California, 22 cases in Florida, five cases in Minnesota, four cases in New York, three cases in Colorado, two cases in Connecticut, and one case each in Texas, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Georgia
• The U.S Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisor says that the US doesn’t have a public health infrastructure for mass vaccination
• Moderna reported that its vaccine will give immunization against the Coronavirus for at least a year.
•  In the first week of January, the US reported over 200,000 new COVID-19 cases every single day for a week.
• On January 11^th, 2021, according to Centers for Disease Control’s data, nearly 9 million people received their first shot out of the more than 22 million COVID-19 vaccine doses distributed in the US.

DECEMBER, 2020

• Canada gave emergency approval for the COVID-19 vaccine after health officials determined it had met safety, efficacy, and quality requirements.
• In December 2020, a new COVID-19 variant was identified in the UK which is informally named VUI-202012/01 (the first “Variant Under Investigation” in December 2020) and is established by some 17 changes or mutations.
•  India surpassed 10 million cases as the country plans for a massive vaccination drive.
• Peru’s clinical trials of China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine were suspended briefly by the Peruvian National Institute of Health after a participant of the clinical trial reported a reduction in muscle strength in his legs.
• Germany’s biotech company CureVac announced in December, said it has started the phase 3 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine that also uses mRNA technology like Pfizer’s vaccine. It will have an expected enrollment of more than 35,000 participants in places like Latin America and Europe.
•  Singapore approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and its first shipment arrived in the last week of December
• A group of physicians at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommended that the COVID-19 vaccine should not be withheld from women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Although the UK regulators said that the women who are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant within the next three months should delay getting vaccinated.
• The first COVID-19 vaccine arrived in George Washington University Hospital on December, 14^th 2020 to give to the first healthcare workers in the hospital.
•  US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Robert Redfield accepted the Covid-19 vaccine recommendations voted on in early December by the agency’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
• Moderna expected to deliver 100-125 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine globally by early 2021 as it applied for emergency use authorization for its vaccine from the U.S FDA in December.
• The US started giving out the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine as the country exceeded 300,000 deaths in December 2020.
• Los Angeles County set another daily record in December for new Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations with 7,854 additional COVID-19 cases and 2,572 people hospitalized.
• The UK was ready to receive the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, England’s deputy chief medical officer said on December, 3^rd 2020, a day after the country authorized it

NOVEMBER, 2020

• Pfizer developed a COVID-19 vaccine with a German partner BioNTech, and at the start of November, it claimed the vaccine has an efficacy of more than 90%
• Russia’s sovereign wealth fund RDIF said early results from its phase three clinical trial of the coronavirus vaccine, called “Sputnik V” showed the efficacy of around 92%.
• On 11^th November 2020 UK reported the highest number of daily deaths since May of up to 50,000.
• Texas became the first state in the U.S to surpass 1 million cases
• Jordan, which was previously applauded for its early and quick handle over the COVID-19 surge has now become a Covid-19 hotspot, which cases are increasing rapidly.
• Hundreds of healthcare workers and staff members working at the Mayo clinic got infected by the virus in the mid of November.
• The FDA gave an emergency green light to the first at home coronavirus test paving a path for more widespread testing beyond the healthcare setting
• After President Trump’s hard push to reopen CDC posted a disputed school reopening document, which it withdrew in November 2020
• More than 250,000 deaths from Covid-19 were reported in the US alone since the pandemic began

OCTOBER, 2020

• The U.S Food and Drug Association issued guidelines for vaccine sponsors in regards to the scientific data that supported the issuance of Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for vaccines in their investigative stages.
• A Chinese health official pledged publicly that an effective coronavirus vaccine will be available by the end of the year in 2020. The country was also committed to sharing its vaccines with more than a dozen nations, particularly low-income countries that it had close ties with.
• European pharmaceutical companies Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline provided 200 million doses of their Covid-19 vaccine to the WHO’s global immunization partnership COVAX
•  In October 2020, the U.S government agreed to pay Eli Lilly $375 million to give out 300,000 vials of its antibody-drug to treat COVID-19 patients
• The new coronavirus surge started spreading across the American heartland, most acutely in the Midwest and Mountain West, just two weeks before the U.S elections
• After halting for safety reasons, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson have continued their U.S. vaccine trials.
• The U.S. set a daily record of over 85,000 new cases on October 26^th, 2020. Hospitalizations are up to 40 percent and deaths are rising in several states.
• On October 22, 2020, FDA posted a new podcast with Deputy Commissioner Anand Shah, M.D., and Dr. Peter Marks, the Director of FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, to discuss the upcoming COVID-19 vaccines.
• According to a team of doctors in the American College of Cardiology, long-term heart damage is very likely in some Covid-19 survivors as it dysregulates the way the blood clots, and damages the lungs and their ability to process fresh oxygen into the blood.
• According to Johns Hopkins University, the global count of COVID-19 cases had passed 40 million.

SEPTEMBER, 2020

• The director of the National Institute of Health said that people shouldn’t be worried about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine.
• A Pennsylvania-based pharma company had planned to start the phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials but have been put on hold by the US Food and Drug Administration as they raised concerns over the technology used by the company to deliver the vaccine inside the human body.
• WHO issued some new guidelines on the use of corticosteroids to treat patients with severe COVID-19
• UK trials of the Oxford and AstraZeneca vaccine started again after a short halt caused due to safety concerns.
• A team of researchers discovered a new site in the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus which can be neutralized and counterbalanced by a specific antibody. Antibodies gathered and collected from the people who are recovering from COVID-19 can be injected into COVID-19 patients which are said to significantly lessen the severity of the disease and decrease the potential long-term effects.
• The U.S Food and Drug Administration awarded a new research contract to the University of Liverpool to arrange and examine samples from animals and humans to create profiles and outlines of numerous coronavirus, which also includes the SARS-CoV-2, responsible for causing COVID-1
•  From 14 to 20 September, there were almost 2 million new cases of COVID-19
• Globally, as of 27^th September 2020, over 32.7 million COVID-19 cases and 991 000 deaths have been reported.
• The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States of America as of 30^th September 2020 was 7,210,067, which was the highest in the world. California had the highest number of cases in the USA with 815,654 people who tested positive for Coronavirus.

– Disclaimer –
This blog is for informational & educational purposes only, and does not intend to substitute any professional medical advice or consultation. For any health related concerns, please consult with your physician, or call 911.