Thought this was an interesting graphic to watch
Map: Is your county ready for schools to open?
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The U.S. now has a framework for opening schools for in-person classes.
Is your county ready?
NBC News is tracking the Covid-19 case counts and tests to determine which areas meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s reopening guidance. As of Feb. 19, just more than 10 percent of counties met the criteria for full in-person classes, according to an analysis of the agency’s figures.
This map will be updated weekly, on Fridays.
COVID-19 vaccines may prevent infection and not just symptoms, study suggests
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Health experts have said that data so far has shown that COVID-19 vaccines prevent symptoms of the virus — but a new study suggests that the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines may also prevent infections.
A team at the Mayo Clinic health system looked at more than 31,000 people across four states who had received at least one dose of either vaccine — and found their vaccines were upwards of 80% effective in preventing infection 36 days after the first dose.
People who have had COVID should get single vaccine dose, studies suggest | Boston.com
Nearly 30 million people in the United States — and probably many others whose illnesses were never diagnosed — have been infected with the coronavirus so far. Should these people still be vaccinated? Two new studies answer that question with an emphatic yes.
In fact, the research suggests that for these people, just one dose of the vaccine is enough to turbocharge their antibodies and destroy the coronavirus — and even some more infectious variants.
The results of these new studies are consistent with the findings of two others published over the past few weeks. Taken together, the research suggests that people who have had COVID-19 should be immunized — but a single dose of the vaccine may be enough.
Study suggests pregnant women should be moved up in vaccine eligibility
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A new study pointing to significantly higher COVID-19 infection rates among pregnant women has doctors pushing for them to be moved up in the vaccination schedule.
The University of Washington study found that women of the very same age group that were not pregnant had significantly lower infection rates. Medical experts have known for some time now that pregnant women who contract the virus are at increased risk for serious illness.
But a new study conducted by the university’s School of Medicine found that the infection rate among pregnant women was 70 percent higher than adults of similar age. The rate was even higher for pregnant women of color.
The study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, suggests the over-representation of women in front-line essential professions could be a contributing factor.
A doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital said pregnant women who are infected but are asymptomatic are easier to identify because they automatically get tested when they are admitted to the hospital.
“If you’re a 38-year-old woman going around in the community who might be working from home, you may certainly have gotten COVID but you might never know because you wouldn’t have a reason to get an asymptomatic nasal swab,” Dr. Andrea Edlow said.
