COVID UPDATE – WEEK ENDING FEB 6, 2022

COVID UPDATE – WEEK ENDING FEB 6, 2022

Feb. 6, 2022

United States:  Cumulative Cases: 77,623,624, Cumulative Deaths: 925.655

World:  Cumulative Cases: 393.554.762, Cumulative Deaths: 5,751.829

Over the course of the last week, there have been 18,314,274 new cases of Covid in the world, and an additional 67.085 deaths.

In the U.S., there have been 2.045.548 new cases reported and 18.465 new deaths.

The U.S. accounts for more than 16% of total reported deaths worldwide.

SSRI’s Place in Covid Recovery

A study of the use of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) baricitinib by Janus was recently completed. It found that when critically ill, adult Covid patients who are on some level of mechanical breathing apparatus were given the SSRI, they were less likely to die from all causes.

This double blind study was conducted at locations in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and the U.S. with participants aged 18 or older over a timeline of 28 days. Regardless of whether the patient received baricitinib or the placebo, all had access to systemic corticosteroids if required – in total 86% of those in the study were given these steroids.

In total, 39% of the baricitinib group died and 58% of the placebo group died within the original 28 days. There was also a significant reduction in mortality for the baricitinib group at the 60 day mark – with 45% dying by 60 days for baricitinib and 63% dying for the placebo group. The study found that for every six people treated with baricitinib, one additional death was prevented.

However, the number of days off ventilation did not significantly differ between the groups, nor did the length of hospital stay. Rates of infections, blood clots, and adverse cardiovascular events also remained similar.

Phase 3 trials will be needed to confirm the study as the overall sample size was comparatively small.

By Sally K Lehman

Feb. 5, 2022

Benton County:  New Cases: 104, Cumulative Cases: 13,582, Cumulative Deaths: 54

Oregon:  New Cases: 4,954, Cumulative Cases: 654,343, Cumulative Deaths: 6,214

Hospitalization Stats

Alaska tops the list of hospitalization increases over the last two weeks with a 42.1% increase. Our neighbor to the east, Idaho, is second with a 39.7% increase. While Oregon did not break the top five, there has been an increase in Covid patients in hospitals here as well; Oregon’s increase over the last two weeks is 21%.

Many states in the east are seeing hospitalization levels decrease, including New York –down 40%, Illinois – down 42%, and Maryland – down 44%. Also down are our other neighbors with Washington down 7%, California down 8%, and Nevada down 12%.

Higher or lower percentages are not the only indices for how well a state is doing. Oregon is still only at 29.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 persons. Checking in on the neighbors again, we have Washington at 29.3 per 100,000, California at 35.3 per 100,000, Idaho at 33.7 per 100,000, and Nevada at 56.5 per 100,000.

In terms of beds-in-use, Oregon is at 80.5% capacity, Washington is at 83.1%, California is at 80%, Nevada is at 81.7%, and Idaho is at 73.8%. The lowest capacity of use is found in Wyoming at 46.8%.

For Oregon, these numbers reflect a 28-day change of 109.2%, lending strong support to the fact that the Omicron variant has created extreme change over a short amount of time.

In the beginning of the pandemic, the U.S. has had at least 16,800 people in the hospital with Covid over every seven-day period. At the height of the pandemic to date, there were 159,000 hospitalized Covid patients over a seven-day period.

For the full map and statistics, go to NBCNews.

By Sally K Lehman

Feb. 4, 2022

Benton County:  New Cases: 150, Cumulative Cases: 13,478, Cumulative Deaths: 54

Oregon:  New Cases: 5,416, Cumulative Cases: 649,389, Cumulative Deaths: 6,181

With 858,994 positive tests out of 9,956,158 tests recorded, Oregon has seen an overall positivity rate of over 8.6%.

Number of OR Anti-Vaxxers Decreases

In a survey conducted in November through the University of Oregon, researchers found that 18% of respondents were still staunchly against the Covid vaccine. Researchers Robert Parker and Benjamin Clark of the Institute for Policy, Research and Engagement said this is down from the 24% who felt the same way a year ago.

Contributing factors for people changing their opinion about vaccines include the pandemic’s progression with many deciding to participate as the Delta variant surged through the state. For 10% of Oregonians – or about 420,000 people, the deciding factor was vaccine mandates.

Parker and Clark continued to see a divide along lines of rural and urban areas. They say this discrepancy amounted to approximately 800,000 unvaccinated people in a population of 4.2 million people living in Oregon.

Their research went on to say that for each percentage point a county is fully vaccinated, the death rate decreases by over five people per 100,000.

By Sally K Lehman

OHA Stockpiles Over 2,000,000 Tests

The Oregon Health Authority has stockpiled 2 million Covid-19 rapid test kits at its warehouse in Wilsonville, but does not know when they’ll be sent out. Read full story here…

By Lynne Terry of press partner Oregon Capital Chronicles

Feb. 3, 2022

Benton County:  New Cases: 212, Cumulative Cases: 13,328, Cumulative Deaths: 54

Oregon:  New Cases: 5,150, Cumulative Cases: 643,973, Cumulative Deaths: 6,163

There were 39 new deaths from Covid in Oregon yesterday, and one of those deaths was in Benton County.

Children Under 5 Next Up for Vaccines

With the Food and Drug Administration’s urging, Pfizer has asked the U.S. to authorize its Covid-19 vaccine for children under the age of five. The dose – one-tenth of an adult dose – may be approved as soon as March.

Unlike the adult dosage, this regimen would include three shots as the two-shot dosage which worked well for babies didn’t provide enough protections for preschoolers. Therefore, there is a likelihood the FDA may approve a two-shot dose immediately then add a third dose later.

To date, only 20% of children aged five to 11 have received Covid vaccines. Just over 50% of children aged 12-17 have received their vaccinations.

US Army Enforces Vaccine Mandate

During the summer of 2021, the United States Army implemented a vaccine mandate for service members. In a directive issued by Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth, commanders are now required to “initiate involuntary administrative separation proceedings against any Soldier who has refused the COVID-19 vaccination order.” Additionally, this separation is required to be done “as expeditiously as possible.”

This mandate applies to regular Army Soldiers, members of the Army Reserve serving Title 10 active duty – meaning on active duty at the order of the president, and cadets.

Any unvaccinated Soldier who has requested a medical or religious exemption will be exempt from the mandate until their request is reviewed. If a Soldier’s request for exemption is denied, they can either begin the vaccine regimen or submit an appeal. As of Jan. 26, almost 5,900 Soldiers have received temporary exemptions.

Of active troops, 96% are fully vaccinated. The Army has relieved six Army leaders, “including two battalion commanders, and issued 3,073 general officer written reprimands to Soldiers for refusing the vaccination order.”

Wormuth said, “Unvaccinated Soldiers present risk to the force and jeopardize readiness.”

By Sally K Lehman

Feb. 2, 2022

Benton County:  New Cases: 190, Cumulative Cases: 13,116, Cumulative Deaths: 53

Oregon:  New Cases: 4,947, Cumulative Cases: 638,823, Cumulative Deaths: 6,124

In Oregon, 24 more people died from Covid yesterday. One of those people was from Benton County.

On the glass-half-full side of things, more than 13,000 people in Benton County contracted this virus and recovered. Statewide, over 632,000 people have recovered.

OSU Quickly Approaches Feb. 15 Booster Deadline

Oregon State University students and faculty fast approach the February deadline to receive their COVID-19 booster shot, while University of Oregon community members were required to submit proof of their booster shot by Monday, Jan. 31

According to OSU’s COVID-19 protocols, “All OSU students and employees who are currently eligible for their booster must be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccine doses by Feb. 15, 2022.”

The Oregon Health Authority defines up-to-date as having “received a booster or received your second dose of Pfizer or Moderna within the past five months or received the initial dose of Johnson & Johnson within the past two months.”

Individuals who are not yet eligible for their booster must obtain it within 30 days of becoming eligible. They must also submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Student Health Services patient portal.

By Kevin Coalwell

Where We Are With Boosters

U.S. acceptance of the Covid vaccines has been lacking. In the 13 months since the first vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration, only 210 million – approximately 63% – of all Americans have received their initial one or two doses, depending on which vaccine was administered.

Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that only 40% of Americans have received their third booster – or second in the case of Johnson & Johnson. What began with one million shots per day in December of 2021 had declined to less than half of that as of last week.

Scientists and governmental agencies are trying to reinforce the idea that the added booster is more than an optional supplement, but is rather a foundational protection against the Covid virus.

In Oregon, Governor Kate Brown had set a goal of one million booster shots in arms by the end of January of 2022. These shots were to be in addition to the 945,000 shots already administered by Dec. 17. Yet, according to the Oregon Health Authority, the state fell short of that number, only reaching 504,000 boosted.

Oddly, while we missed the governor’s target, Oregon ranks 8th in the country for highest rate of fully vaccinated persons receiving boosters with 48.6%, falling behind Vermont, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, Iowa, Rhode Island, and Ohio. Our neighboring states of Washington came in at number 14 with 46.8%, and California came in at number 19 with 45.4%. New Hampshire came in last with only 19.3% of fully vaccinated persons receiving boosters.

By Sally K Lehman

Portland International Airport Sees More Flight Reductions for February, March 

Omicron continues to wreak havoc on the U.S. aviation industry, and Oregon flying is no exception. After a brutal holiday season with cancellations across the board, local airlines continue to cut flights to combat omicron-related disruptions. Alaska Airlines recently announced a flight reduction of 10% in January, and now have cut 194 flights for February and March out of Portland International Airport. Canceled routes include Denver, Boston, and Minneapolis/St. Paul.

By Rebekah Harcrow

Feb. 1, 2022

Benton County:  New Cases: 285, Cumulative Cases: 12,926, Cumulative Deaths: 52

Oregon:  New Cases: 13,224, Cumulative Cases: 633,876, Cumulative Deaths: 6,100

CDC Map Shows Red

According to a new map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, America is an almost completely red expanse of highly transmissible Covid with small dots of safety – one in Nebraska, three in Texas.

Transmission risk is calculated by how many new cases occur per 100,000 persons over the course of seven days. Low transmissibility means that fewer than 10 cases per 100,000 and there are three places in the U.S. that meet this requirement; Moderate transmissibility means between 10 and 49.99 cases per 100,000 and nowhere in the U.S. falls in this category; Substantial transmissibility means between 50 and 99.99 cases and one county in Texas meets this requirement; High transmissibility means over 100 cases per 100,000 and the rest of the U.S. falls into this category.

What does this mean for Benton County? With a population nearing 100,000, Benton County would need to limit the number of new Covid cases to less than 100 per week to go to a lower level.

Pediatric Conditions Linked to Covid-19

Despite early thinking to the contrary, children can become seriously ill from Covid – particularly if they have an underlying medical condition prior to catching the virus. Conditions which may cause more serious reactions include any genetic, neurologic, or metabolic conditions, congenital heart issues, obesity, diabetes, asthma, lung disease, sickle cell disease, or immunosuppression.

Children are two-and-a-half times more likely to develop diabetes 30 days or more after infection with Covid. On rare occasions, children who have had Covid can develop Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) – a condition in which different body parts become inflamed, including vital organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal tract.

The best way to protect your child from this is to get them vaccinated if they are aged five or older, have them wear masks when out in public or at school, and protect yourself so as to keep the virus out of your home.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, there have been 103,682 pediatric cases of Covid in Oregon to date. That is approximately 16% of all cases in the state.

By Sally K Lehman

Jan. 31, 2022

United States:  Cumulative Cases: 75,578,076, Cumulative Deaths: 907,190

World:  Cumulative Cases: 375,240,488, Cumulative Deaths: 5,684,744

Benton County Vaccine Event

From January 31 through February 11, there will be vaccines available at the Benton County Fairgrounds from 11:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Read more here…