AllTop Viral!

The “delta variant” of COVID-19––a more transmissible variant that emerged in India––has been found in Arizona. Its arrival is alarming because, so far, only a handful of states have reached the goal of a 70% vaccination rate. Anheuser-Busch is even giving away free beer when America reaches its vaccine goal. The fewer people who are fully vaccinated, the more likely there is to be another surge or new variants.

Fully vaccinated people in several southern California towns have tested positive for COVID, serving as a reminder that the vaccines are not 100% effective and thus as many people as possible need to get it. COVID rates are slowing in the South and the plains states, worrying health experts. Appointments for the first COVID shot have plummeted by about 50% in Los Angeles, worrying public health officials in a state thrashed by the virus.

Earlier this winter, despite record numbers of COVID cases and deaths, some 30% of Californians are violating stay-at-home orders. Meanwhile, as the state prepares to extend the stay-at-home orders, groups of maskless protestors are gathering to sing Christmas carols in protest.

California broke COVID records, and as a result hospitals in the state were “crushed” by an influx of patients. ICU beds all but disappeared, especially in the southern half of the state.

Pfizer is testing a pill that, if it works, could be the first home-cure for COVID. If the current trial goes well, the pill will be ready by the end of the year.

After a brief pause, the CDC has recommended the resumption of the Johnson and Johnson vaccination after fears of negative side effects.

Last week, federal health officials began considering lifting their recommendation to pause the Johnson & Johnson vaccine following the rare blood clotting disorder  among some recipients.

Elsewhere in the country, the rate of COVID vaccines has sat at a whopping 3 million shots per day for two weeks straight, and now about 40% of Americans have received at least one shot. Just a few weeks ago, the number of vaccines peaked at 2.4 million shots a day.

More news.