Coronavirus news, updates, hotspots and information for 3-16-2021

This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for March 16th, 2021.   Germany, France, and Italy are joining countries hitting pause on the AstraZeneca vaccine after several countries reported possible serious side-effects. That throws the EU’s already struggling vaccination effort into further disarray. Those countries join Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Bulgaria, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain.   A member of the World Health Organization investigative team says wildlife farms in southern China are the most likely source of the pandemic. The WHO team found evidence these farms supplied vendors at the market in Wuhan. The Chinese government has been promoting these farms for 20 years as a way to alleviate rural poverty. Upon the outbreak, the government shut them down and told farmers how to dispose of the animals.   A new CDC study shows not only have Americans been good about getting a vaccine, they’ve been good about doing it the proper way. Namely, they’re very diligent about getting their second shot. Historically, about half of patients skip subsequent doses of multi-dose regimens. But 88% who were eligible for a second dose followed through as of mid-February. And did so within the recommended time frame.   And it appears those vaccines will only get better. Moderna has dosed the first participant in an early-stage study of a new vaccine candidate that could be stored and shipped in refrigerators instead of freezers. That would be good news for developing countries. They’re also evaluating it as a potential booster shot.   One group that appears to have little interest in getting vaccinated, correctional officers. A poll of Florida correctional officers found only 40 of 475 respondents said they’d get it. In Massachusetts, Iowa, and California, around half declined or will decline to be immunized. In Rhode Island, more prison staff are refusing the vaccine than prisoners.   In the United States cases were down 19%, deaths are down 31%, and hospitalizations down 27% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since February 26.    There are now 7,304,022 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, New York, Florida, Virginia, and Georgia.   The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Lyon, KY. Chattahoochee, GA. Concho, TX. Beaver, UT. Nuckolls, NE. Pittsylvania, VA. Webster, WV. Yuma, CO. Otsego, MI. And Ida, IA.   The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Missouri, Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.   There have been 535,596 deaths in the US reported as Covid-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.82%.   The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: California 166. Florida 93. New York 84. Texas 52. Georgia 47. Colorado 43. Virginia 41. Massachusetts 28. And Kentucky and Connecticut 23.   The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s had at least one dose, New Mexico at 29%, Alaska at 27.7%, and South Dakota at 27.4%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are Georgia at 15.7%, Alabama at 17.3%, and Tennessee at 18.1%.   Globally, cases were up 11% and deaths down 6% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending up since March 4.     There are now 21,686,157 active cases around the world.   The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 45,045. Brazil 42,107. India 24,437. Turkey 15,503. And Italy 15,267.   There have now been 2,659,623 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... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.