7 Major Coronavirus Developments — U.S. Researchers Say New Strain More Contagious — May 6, 2020
GoLocalProv News Team
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — U.S. Researchers Say New Strain More Contagious — May 6, 2020
The new strain is linked to Europe and the East Coast of the United States.
Scientists have identified a new strain of the coronavirus that has become dominant worldwide and appears to be more contagious than the versions that spread in the early days of the pandemic.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST"We have developed an analysis pipeline to facilitate real-time mutation tracking in SARS-CoV-2, focusing initially on the Spike (S) protein because it mediates infection of human cells and is the target of most vaccine strategies and antibody-based therapeutics," the researchers write.
The implications are significant as much of the effort to establish a vaccine is working against the initial virus.
WATCH AT NOON: Former Director of Health Dr. Michael Fine on GoLocal LIVE
The Los Angeles Times reports, "Scientists with major organizations working on a vaccine or drugs to combat the coronavirus have told The Times that they are pinning their hopes on initial evidence that the virus is stable and not likely to mutate the way the influenza virus does, requiring a new vaccine every year. The Los Alamos report could upend that assumption. The mutation identified in the new report affects the now-infamous spikes on the exterior of the coronavirus, which allow it to enter human respiratory cells. The report’s authors said they felt an “urgent need for an early warning” so that vaccines and drugs under development around the world will be effective against the mutated strain.
"To date we have identified fourteen mutations in Spike that are accumulating. Mutations are considered in a broader phylogenetic context, geographically, and over time, to provide an early warning system to reveal mutations that may confer selective advantages in transmission or resistance to interventions. Each one is evaluated for evidence of positive selection, and the implications of the mutation are explored through structural modeling," said the researchers.
The researchers add, "The mutation Spike D614G is of urgent concern; it began spreading in Europe in early February, and when introduced to new regions it rapidly becomes the dominant form. Also, we present evidence of recombination between locally circulating strains, indicative of multiple strain infections. These finding have important implications for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, pathogenesis and immune interventions."
READ 7 Major Coronavirus Developments BELOW
7 Major Coronavirus Developments — May 6, 2020
RISD Grad's Airbnb Slashes Jobs
Airbnb Inc. has been one of the hottest tech companies -- and is now slashing 1,900 jobs -- 25% of the company's workforce.
Co-Founder and CEO Brian Chesky -- a RISD grad -- announced the cuts in a memo Tuesday, adding that the company’s revenue forecast for this year is “less than half” of last year’s level.
RISD grad Joe Gebbia was the other founder.
“We are collectively living through the most harrowing crisis of our lifetime, and as it began to unfold, global travel came to a standstill,” Chesky told employees in his memo. “Airbnb’s business has been hit hard.”
Airbnb was expected to issue an IPO, and now the company is expected to lose $1 billion this year.
Mental Health Crisis
A Media Post reports "83% Of Americans Feel 'Stressed and Overwhelmed' Since COVID-19 Arrival."
"Pandemic-weary Americans are seeking treatment for mental health woes in vast numbers according to a new study from agency Oberland and Guardian Labs, part of publisher Guardian US.
The report is based on a survey of 500 households with incomes under $100,000 that was conducted with online research platform Suzy.
The survey found that 83% of those polled felt “stressed and/or overwhelmed” since the arrival of COVID-19, while 45% have sought out mental health help."
Raimondo Orders Masks
On Tuesday, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed an executive order directing everyone in a public place – whether indoors or outdoors – to wear a cloth face covering.
The only exceptions are for children younger than two years of age and anyone whose health would be negatively affected by wearing a face covering. The order goes into effect Friday.
CVS Beats Estimates, Sales Up in Q1
CVS Health Corp. saw higher sales in the 1st quarter of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic drove sales.
Prescription sales were up 8%. Same-store sales also grew 8% and shoppers bought health-related items and other goods.
“We’re uniquely positioned to understand consumer and patient needs and how to address them,” CVS CEO Larry Merlo said in a statement.
CVS reported first-quarter net income of $2 billion, or $1.53 a share, compared with $1.4 billion, or $1.09 a share, in the comparable quarter a year before. Adjusted earnings were $1.91 a share.
Analysts were looking for earnings of $1.22 a share, or $1.62 a share on an adjusted basis.
CVS said its revenue rose 8.3% to $66.8 billion from the same period a year earlier, as revenue grew across all segments. Analysts were targeting $64.1 billion.
Economic Worries Boil Over
"Many Americans fear credit score damage: 87 million Americans are worried about their credit scores due to the coronavirus. Some of the most worried groups include middle-income people, the 30-44 age bracket and people with fair credit," according to WalletHub.
According to the report:
- Americans want missed payment forgiveness: 86% of Americans agree that credit scores should ignore any missed payments during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Housing payments take precedence: 58 million Americans are most worried about paying their mortgage or rent during the coronavirus pandemic, followed by 46 million most worried about paying their credit card bill.
-Women anticipate more debt: Women are 21% more likely than men to expect to get into more debt during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Financial priorities vary by age: Millennials' top financial priority right now is paying bills, while Gen Xers' is preserving cash.
Numbers
9,933 Cases in Rhode Island
70,271 Cases in Massachusetts
355 Deaths in RI
4,212 Deaths in Massachusetts
1,238,052 Cases in the United States
72,284 Deaths in the United States
3,747,313 Global Cases
258,962 Global Deaths
1,250,602 Global Recoveries
GoLocal LIVE, Wednesday, May 6, 2020
12:00 PM - Dr. Michael Fine, Former Director of RI Department of Health
2:30 PM - Governor Gina Raimondo Briefing
EDITOR'S NOTE: Raimondo does not allow Rhode Islanders to hear reporters' questions. Nearly all governors across the country and the White House allow reporters to ask questions directly and for the public to hear the questions and the responses.
