Trump Admits COVID-19 Severity as White House Tightens Guidance
Phase 1 Trial of Moderna Vaccine Starts
Fauci also said during yesterday’s press conference that the first phase of a trial on a COVID-19 vaccine began in Seattle on 45 healthy individuals ages 18-55. The vaccine was prepared in just 65 days, a speed Fauci called record breaking.
The trial will measure the safety and immunogenicity of Moderna’s vaccine candidate. Participants will be given two doses, 28 days apart, and three doses of the vaccine will be tested. Follow-up will last at least 1 year, Fauci said.
Also yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization to Thermo Fisher Scientific’s COVID-19 diagnostic test.
San Fran Announces First U.S. Lockdown
In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed issued the first total lockdown on the city’s 6.7 million residents yesterday. According to the San Francisco Examiner, the city will prohibit residents from leaving their homes except to meet basic needs including visiting the doctor, or buying groceries or medicine, until at least April 7. The lockdown starts tonight at midnight.
“The most important thing you can do is remain home as much as possible,” tweeted Mayor Breed. “There is no need to rush out for food or supplies, as these stores will remain open. We’ll meet this challenge and we’ll get through it together.”
The lockdown area includes Santa Clara County, the site of the first community transmission in the United States. That county has 114 cases of the virus.
Over the weekend mayors and governors announced bar closures, curfews, and other measures meant to keep crowds celebrating St. Patrick’s Day to a minimum.
In New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, governors issued a joint regional action to reduce the spread of the virus. Crowds will be kept to 50, bars and restaurants will only be open for takeout or delivery, and gyms, cinemas, and casinos will be closed.
CDC: No Gatherings of More than 50
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late yesterday evening published new recommendations on social gatherings, saying gatherings should be capped at 50 people over the next 8 weeks.
“This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus,” the CDC said. “Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.”
The CDC said the recommendations extend to schools, businesses, or institutes of higher learning — though through the weekend and yesterday Americans across the country were subject to hourly announcements from stores, while school districts announced closings of 14 to 30 days in an effort to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.
The efforts coincided with an op-ed published in the USA Today, signed by 16 healthcare leaders urging Americans to #StayHome to save lives.
“STAY AT HOME as much as possible. It may be in your community now or it may be soon. Until you hear otherwise from health care officials, even if you have no symptoms. That means avoiding play dates, sleepovers, bars, restaurants, parties or houses of worship. Avoid all crowds,” said the letter.
U.S. Cases Surge Past 4,000
According to the Johns Hopkins University online COVID-19 map, officials in the United States have confirmed 4,392 cases as of this afternoon. New York had 964 cases, and Washington had 769 cases. West Virginia remains the only state without a confirmed case.
