Welcome to the refreshed version of Key Developments, now released twice a week and focusing on more than just COVID-19. While we're still heavily centered on pandemic-related updates, we're gradually expanding our scope to cover other important topics as well. Stay tuned for more diverse content moving forward!
Global cases of COVID-19 have surpassed 22.2 million, marking an increase of over 1.8 million cases since last week, which itself saw a significant rise compared to the previous period. The trend of accelerating global case growth persists, with the total number of deaths worldwide exceeding 782,000. In the United States alone, there are over 5.6 million confirmed cases and more than 174,000 fatalities, averaging around 1,000 deaths per day. The U.S., Brazil, and India remain the top contributors to global case growth, while Mexico continues to rank third globally in terms of cumulative deaths, with over 57,000 recorded so far. Unfortunately, the global death rate has started rising again:
On Friday, 9,985 coronavirus deaths were reported, marking the highest one-day increase since the start of the pandemic. Notably, 3,658 of these deaths were due to older cases being added to Peru's official toll.
— BNO News (@BNOFeed) August 15, 2020
Anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts are all on the rise compared to pre-pandemic levels, largely driven by the stressors associated with the ongoing crisis. Self-reported rates of anxiety and depression are now two to three times higher than usual, although precise figures vary across different populations. A concerning statistic from a recent CDC survey indicates that over a quarter of young Americans contemplated suicide within the past month:
According to the CDC, 25.5% of Americans aged 18-24 seriously considered suicide in the last 30 days. Additionally, 16% of individuals aged 25-44 reported similar thoughts. https://t.co/wl6qYWFLW0 pic.twitter.com/0uC0EUzpmx
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 13, 2020
With the Senate recessing until September, it seems unlikely that a comprehensive pandemic relief package will be passed anytime soon. Meanwhile, there is still no federally coordinated contact-tracing initiative in place.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently indicated that immunity following infection likely lasts at least three months. However, the exact duration and extent of immunity beyond this period remain uncertain, though this does not necessarily imply that immunity ends exactly at three months:
New CDC guidance suggests that immunity post-infection lasts approximately three months, based on antibody studies conducted in recovered patients. https://t.co/iuLybBDwzY
— Aaron Paul Kithcart (@APKithcartMDPhD) August 14, 2020
Saliva-based testing methods are on the horizon and could offer a far less intrusive alternative to traditional nasal swabbing:
The saliva test represents a significantly less invasive procedure compared to current nasal swab techniques, yet it has shown high sensitivity and comparable accuracy. https://t.co/OlKFfmGEE8
— STAT (@statnews) August 15, 2020
Amazon is offering relocation packages to certain employees in Seattle, reflecting how the pandemic is transforming urban landscapes and housing trends. The delay in processing COVID-19 tests has rendered their utility limited in curbing transmission. When results take longer than two to three days, individuals often interact with others before receiving their test outcomes, potentially spreading the virus widely. Reports indicate that 40% of tests are being processed too slowly. Quest Diagnostics aims to reduce turnaround times to one to two days.
A shortage of pepperoni is looming due to disruptions in supply chains caused by the pandemic. I'm personally quite distraught about this development:
https://twitter.com/RobMcNealy/status/1295512811842371584?s=20
Meanwhile, Pizza Hut is shutting down 300 locations amid these challenging times.
California is experiencing extreme heatwaves, leading to widespread rolling blackouts affecting millions of residents, including myself. These interruptions pose significant inconveniences but can also be life-threatening for those reliant on continuous medical care or oxygen therapy at home. For pandemic survivors requiring home oxygen support, such outages are especially worrisome. Families should consider obtaining portable oxygen units immediately if they lack them already.
California teeters on the edge. @CAISO predicts electricity demand will exceed available supply capacity. https://t.co/n8bJyhnIBd pic.twitter.com/4reufeNRIJ
— Mike Zaccardi, CFA, CMT (@MikeZaccardi) August 17, 2020
As we navigate this unprecedented era, staying informed remains crucial. Let us continue supporting one another through shared knowledge and collective resilience.
Living Room Sofas,Genuine Leather Sofa,Leather Couch Sofa Set,Luxury Leather Sofa Set
Henan Toda Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.todafurniture.com