Coronavirus, COVID-19, coronavirus variants, and vaccine updates for 9-29-2021

This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots for September 29th, 2021.   Pfizer has given the FDA research on the effectiveness of its vaccine in kids 5-11, but those shots may not come until November. First, Pfizer has to file its application, then U.S. regulators and public health officials review and consult with advisory committees. And all that takes time.   Russia reported its highest Covid death toll in a single day yesterday with 852 coronavirus-related deaths in the past 24 hours. The Kremlin acknowledged some regions had seen an increase in cases. Less than 50 million Russians having received a first dose of a vaccine even though the country was first in the world to approve one.   We should be cherishing healthcare workers but instead they’re being attacked. So much so that they’ll be issued panic buttons. This has happened in a Branson, Missouri hospital where assaults on workers tripled since the pandemic hit. Pushing the button immediately alerts security. Similar increases in hospital assaults have been reported around the country.   An updated study on what the main reason was people who were previously reluctant to get vaccinated wound up changing their mind from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The top reasons, in order, were, someone they knew personally got sick or died, vaccines were required to participate in a desired activity, concerns about overwhelmed hospitals, the surge of cases due to Delta, and it was required as a condition of employment.   He’s one of the biggest, most well-known celebrities on the planet. So NBA superstar LeBron James might be able to inspire people to get vaccinated. But he won’t. After months of initial reluctance, he confirmed yesterday he did get the vaccine. But he’s not going to tell anyone else to do so, saying, "I don't feel I should get involved in what other people should do for their bodies and livelihoods.”   In the United States cases were down 33%, deaths are up 12%, and hospitalizations are down 16% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since September 13.    There are 9,822,645 active cases in the United States.   With not all states reporting daily numbers, the five states with the greatest number of daily deaths per capita are Alabama, Alaska, Florida, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.   The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK. Cleburne, AL. Kodiak Island Borough, AK. Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK. Lewis, WV. Whitley, KY. Green, KY. Custer, MT. Letcher, KY. And Magoffin, KY.   There have been at least 692,511 deaths in the U.S. recorded as Covid-related.   The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s been fully vaccinated were all unchanged: Vermont at 69.3%, Connecticut at 68.5%, and Maine at 68.2%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are West Virginia at 40.4%, Wyoming unchanged at 41.2%, and Idaho unchanged at 41.4%. The percentage of the U.S. that’s been fully vaccinated is 55.4%.   The 5 countries with the largest recent 24-hour increase in the number of fully vaccinated people: South Korea and Taiwan up 3%. And Oceana, Nepal, and India 2%.     Globally, cases were down 20% and deaths were down 10% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending down since August 27.   There are 18,415,997 active cases around the world.   The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 105,633. The U.K. 34,526. Turkey 28,892. India 21,901. And Russia 21,559.   There have now been at least 4,763,415 deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide.   For the latest updates, subscribe for free to Coronavirus 411 on your podcast app or ask your smart speaker to play the Coronavirus 411... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.