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The updated shots are part of a push by public health officials to align the next COVID vaccines more closely with the actual circulating variant of the virus, similar to the way annual flu shots are designed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday authorized updated COVID vaccines made by Pfizer (PFE.N) and its German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) as well as by Moderna (MRNA.O). CDC Director Mandy Cohen is expected to approve the recommendations issued by the advisers, allowing Americans to get the updated vaccines. The first COVID vaccines in 2020 were monovalent, or single-target vaccines, aimed at the original strain of the virus. They were followed by bivalent COVID vaccine booster shots that targeted both the original and the Omicron strains.

Persons: Emily Elconin, BioNTech, Caitlin Rivers, Mandy Cohen, Rivers, bivalent, Daniel Kuritzkes, Eris, Kuritzkes, Novavax, Bhanvi, Julie Steenhuysen, Will Dunham, Caroline Humer Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, FDA, Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, CDC, Omicron, Brigham, Women's Hospital, Vaccine, EG, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, United States, Baltimore, Europe, Asia, Boston, Moderna, Bengaluru, Chicago

Most Americans should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine, health officials said Tuesday. Here is what you need to know about the new COVID-19 shots:WHO SHOULD GET THE UPDATED VACCINE? The agency's panel of outside exerts recommended the updated COVID-19 shots by a vote of 13-1. But federal officials said the new COVID-19 shots still will be free to most Americans through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Similar to how flu shots are updated each year, the FDA gave COVID-19 vaccine makers a new recipe for this fall.

Persons: they’ve, ”, Camille Kotton, haven’t Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, TED, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, FDA, Massachusetts General Hospital, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP Locations: U.S, Massachusetts, Novavax

☆ With Covid-19 cases on the rise, should students take extra precautions?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

However, Covid-19 cases are on the rise, along with key metrics like hospital admissions. When should parents and caregivers get their children the flu vaccine and the new Covid-19 vaccine? Should parents get their children the flu vaccine and the new Covid-19 vaccine? Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine every year, with very rare exceptions. The new Covid-19 vaccine is important for people vulnerable to severe illness.

Persons: Leana Wen, Wen, Theodore Parisienne, It’s, hospitalizations, who’s, I’ve, — Organizations: CNN, CNN Wellness, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Daily, Getty Locations: Covid, Brooklyn

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter. It’s part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots. The FDA pointedly isn’t calling this latest round a “booster” but instead a vaccine updated to better match the currently circulating virus. But while the FDA's decision allows for wide use of the updated shots, the CDC will decide how strongly different groups are urged to get them.

Persons: BioNTech, they’ve, There’s, Novavax, It’s, Peter Marks Organizations: WASHINGTON, Drug Administration, Moderna, Pfizer, Disease Control, CDC, FDA, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

☆ Threads is temporarily blocking searches about Covid-19
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Threads, the much-hyped social media app from Facebook-parent Meta, is taking heat for blocking searches for “coronavirus,” “Covid,” and other pandemic-related queries. News of Threads blocking searches related to the coronavirus was first reported by The Washington Post. A Meta spokesperson told CNN that the company just began rolling out keyword search for Threads to additional countries last week. Meta’s Facebook and other social media platforms faced controversy in the early part of the pandemic for the apparent spread of Covid-19-related misinformation online. Threads released its much-requested web version late last month, and its keyword search about a week ago.

Persons: “, ”, Meta, – CNN’s Clare Duffy Organizations: CNN, Facebook, The Washington Post, Meta, Twitter Locations: United States, Covid

☆ FDA approves updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna as hospitalizations rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna , putting the shots on track to reach Americans within days as U.S. hospitalizations from the virus rise. The updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna won't be available to Americans just yet. The Biden administration said in August that it expects new single-strain vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax targeting XBB.1.5 to be available to the public in mid-September. The upcoming arrival of updated vaccines offers some reassurance to Americans as the nation sees an increase in Covid cases and hospitalizations. Bourla and Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel, in a separate statement, urged Americans to receive their updated Covid shot during the same appointment as their annual flu shot.

Persons: Biden, Pfizer's, Albert Bourla, Stéphane Bancel, hospitalizations Organizations: Pfizer, BioNTech, Peabody Institute Library, Drug Administration, Moderna, FDA, CDC, Covid, EG Locations: Peabody , Massachusetts, U.S

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized updated COVID-19 shots that could roll out as soon as this week. “Vaccination remains critical to public health and continued protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. The fall booster shot campaign comes as the U.S. sees its seventh straight week of rising COVID-19 hospitalizations. COVID-19 deaths appear to be rising slightly, but the provisional data from the CDC is prone to amendments and delays.

Persons: ”, Peter Marks Organizations: Drug Administration, FDA’s, Biologics, Centers for Disease Control, EG Locations: U.S

WASHINGTON (AP) — Updated COVID-19 vaccines are coming soon, just in time to pair them with flu shots. Approval of updated COVID-19 shots is expected within days. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesHere is what you need to know about fall vaccinations:WHY MORE COVID-19 SHOTS? Earlier this month, European regulators authorized Pfizer’s updated vaccine for this fall, for adults and children as young as 6 months. CAN I GET A FLU SHOT AND COVID-19 SHOT AT THE SAME TIME?

Persons: Mandy Cohen, haven’t, “, ”, David Montefiori, it's, Carla K, Johnson Organizations: WASHINGTON, Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, FDA, Duke, WHO, GSK, AstraZeneca, AP, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group Locations: Novavax, Sanofi

☆ US CDC says existing antibodies can work against new COVID variant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 8 (Reuters) - Early research data has shown that antibodies produced by prior infection or existing vaccines against the coronavirus were sufficient to protect against the new BA.2.86 variant, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday. The Food and Drug Administration in the coming days is expected to authorize the updated vaccines that target the XBB.1.5 subvariant of Omicron, and early data provide encouraging signs for the new shots, CDC said. Since CDC's initial risk assessment last month, BA.2.86 has been identified in nine U.S. states as of Friday. The Omicron offshoot has also been identified from both human and wastewater specimens in countries including Japan, UK and Canada. Reporting by Vaibhav Sadhamta in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh KuberOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: coronavirus, Vaibhav, Shailesh Organizations: U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Drug Administration, CDC, Omicron, Canada, Thomson Locations: United States, Japan, Bengaluru

Since his death, Texas-based manufacturer Paqui has asked retailers to stop selling the individually wrapped chips, a step 7-Eleven has already taken. The One Chip Challenge chip sells for about $10 and comes wrapped in a sealed foil pouch that is enclosed in a coffin-shaped cardboard box. Authorities in Massachusetts also have responded by warning parents about the challenge, which is popular on social media sites such as TikTok. Family and friends of Wolobah believe the chips caused his death and his family called for the chips to be banned from store shelves. In addition to its name, One Chip Challenge, the package lays out the challenge rules, which encourage the buyer to eat the entire chip, “wait as long as possible before drinking or eating anything” and post their reaction on social media.

Persons: Harris, Paqui, Attorney Joseph Early, ”, Lauren Rice, Dr, Peter Chai, ” Chai, Wolobah, Douglas Hill, “, Douglas Organizations: The Hershey Company, Authorities, Attorney, Paramedics, Tufts Medical Center, Brigham, Women’s Hospital, ” Police Locations: WORCESTER, Massachusetts, Texas, Worcester, Worcester County, California, Minnesota, Boston, Liberia

☆ Covid Continues to Rise, but Experts Remain Optimistic
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Apoorva Mandavilli | More About Apoorva Mandavilli | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has announced that the state will send high-quality masks and rapid tests to school districts that request them. But in interviews, experts offered reassurances that the country will not see a return to the nightmarish scenarios of previous years. And although hospitalizations and deaths are increasing week by week, the numbers remain low, noted Gigi Gronvall, a biosecurity expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Hospital admissions for Covid increased by about 16 percent in the week ending Aug. 26, compared with the previous week. But the 17,400 new admissions were less than half the number in the same period last year, and about one-fifth the number in 2021.

Persons: Jill Biden, Kathy Hochul, Gigi Gronvall, Gronvall Organizations: Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security Locations: New York, Kentucky, Texas

Nicknamed "Pirola" on social media, the BA.2.86 Omicron subvariant is being tracked by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Aug. 30, CDC said the BA.2.86 variant was detected in at least four U.S. states in people or wastewater. Delaware on Tuesday said it had detected a BA.2.86 infection at a hospital. Moderna on Wednesday said clinical data showed that its retooled COVID vaccine generated a nearly 9-fold increase in human antibodies that can neutralize BA.2.86. Pfizer said on Wednesday that its updated COVID shot showed neutralizing activity against BA.2.86 and EG.5 in studies conducted on mice.

Persons: Emily Elconin, David Dowdy, Dowdy, Dan Barouch, David Ho, Deena Beasley, Julie Steenhuysen, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Moderna, Pfizer, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, EG, Omicron, East, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center, Virology, Vaccine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, Columbia University, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, Europe, Asia, Delaware, East Coast, Boston, Sweden, China

☆ Covid is surging again—you may want to mask up in these 3 scenarios, says infectious diseases doctor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Renée Onque | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

While a new subvariant is causing increasing hospitalizations across the country and we await the updated Covid-19 vaccines, now may be a good time to put your mask back on, doctors say. Especially in certain settings like on plane rides and trips on the subway. The percentage of people who said they wore a mask outside of their home in the U.S. decreased from about 57% in January 2022 to around 27% in January of 2023, according to data compiled by the Covid States Project. Yet, "masks still provide good protection," says Dr. Andrew Pavia, chief of the division of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Utah and director of hospital epidemiology at Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital.

Persons: Andrew Pavia Organizations: Covid, University of Utah, Children's Hospital Locations: U.S

(AP) — The maker of an extremely spicy tortilla chip sold as the One Chip Challenge and popularized as a dare on social media is pulling the product after the family of a Massachusetts teenager blamed the stunt for his death. The One Chip Challenge chip sells for about $10 and comes wrapped in a sealed foil pouch that is enclosed in a coffin-shaped cardboard box. Political Cartoons View All 1148 ImagesAuthorities in Massachusetts have also responded to the death by warning parents about the challenge, which is is popular on social media sites such as TikTok. Family and friends of Wolobah believe the chips caused his death, and his family called for the chips to be banned from store shelves. In addition to its name, One Chip Challenge, the package lays out the “rules for the challenge,” which encourages the buyer to eat the entire chip, “wait as long as possible before drinking or eating anything,” and post their reaction on social media.

Persons: Harris Wolobah's, hasn't, Attorney Joseph Early, ”, Lauren Rice, Dr, Peter Chai, Wolobah, Douglas Hill, “, Douglas Organizations: The Hershey Company, Attorney, Tufts Medical Center, Brigham, Women’s, ” Police Locations: WORCESTER, Massachusetts, Texas, Worcester County, California, Minnesota, Boston, Worcester, Liberia

☆ Bangladesh’s worst ever dengue outbreak a ‘canary in the coal mine’ for climate crisis, WHO expert warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Dengue-infected people are treated at the Mugda Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on August 7. The global number of dengue cases has already increased eight-fold in the past two decades, according to WHO. As the climate crisis worsens, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever will likely continue to spread and have an ever greater impact on human health. Mahamud said the climate crisis and this year’s El Nino weather pattern – which brings warmer, wetter weather to parts of the world – are worsening the problem. Calling these outbreaks a “canary in the coalmine of the climate crisis,” Mahamud said “global solidarity” and support is needed to deal with the worsening epidemic.

Persons: Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Tedros, “, ”, Mohammad Ponir Hossain, ” Tedros, ” Kabirul Bashar, Raman Velayudhan, Abdi Mahamud, Mahamud, ” Mahamud Organizations: CNN, World Health Organization, WHO, Mugda Medical College, Hospital, Reuters, Dhaka –, ” WHO, “, South America Locations: Bangladesh, El Nino, Dhaka, Nino, Peru, Florida, Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Africa, Chad

☆ Covid hospitalizations spike with new variant as school returns, U.S. readies vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The late summer Covid spike comes after a quiet year in which hospitalizations and deaths declined week after week since January. "We're living in a bit of a fantasy world where we're pretending Covid is not relevant," Birx told ABC in a podcast interview last week. Birx said those vaccines should have been released weeks ago to combat the predictable summer wave, adding the U.S. should already be developing new shots for January to target the emerging BA.2.86 variant. The updated shots should be effective at reducing severe disease and hospitalization from the variant, according to the agency. The first lady last caught Covid in August 2022 and the president tested positive in July of last year.

Persons: Shannon Stapleton, Reuters Covid, Deborah Birx, Trump, Covid, Birx, we're, Novavax, Moderna, Karine Jean, Pierre, Biden, Anthony Fauci, Fauci, It's, Still, Jill Biden, Joe Biden Organizations: Intensive Care Unit, Western Reserve Hospital, Reuters, hospitalizations, Centers for Disease Control, White, ABC, Pfizer, Moderna, CDC, U.S, BBC, National Institute of Allergy, White House Locations: Cuyahoga Falls , Ohio, U.S, ., Arkansas , Colorado , Indiana , Kansas , Minnesota , Oklahoma , Tennessee , Utah, Wyoming, China, Kentucky, Texas, India

☆ Moderna says updated Covid vaccine was effective against highly mutated BA.2.86 variant in trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Moderna 's new Covid vaccine produced a strong immune response against BA.2.86, a highly mutated omicron variant that health officials are watching closely, according to clinical trial data the biotech company released Wednesday. The updated shot produced an 8.7-fold increase in protective antibodies against BA.2.86, which has been detected in small numbers nationwide. Moderna is the first out of the companies producing updated Covid jabs to release data on how its shot fares against BA.2.86. Last month, Moderna also released clinical trial data suggesting that its new shot provides protection against the now-dominant EG.5, or "Eris," variant and another rapidly spreading strain called FL.1.5.1. New vaccines are set to arrive as Eris and other Covid variants fuel a rise in cases and hospitalizations across the country.

Persons: Stephen Hoge, Covid hospitalizations Organizations: Disease Control, Moderna, Pfizer, Novavax, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, EG, CDC Locations: U.S

☆ Covid: How to check if expired tests still work as cases rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As Covid cases surge again in the U.S., Americans are digging out unused at-home tests that they stashed earlier on in the pandemic. If the date has not changed, the FDA advises against using expired tests. Public health experts say testing remains a critical tool for protection as Covid metrics climb. However, certain local health clinics and community sites still offer at-home tests to the public at no cost. Before buying new at-home tests, it wouldn't hurt to check if any expired ones sitting in your medicine cabinet are still safe to use.

Persons: Abbott's, Andrew Pekosz, Covid hospitalizations Organizations: Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, FDA, Centers for Disease Control Locations: Orlando, U.S

☆ Covid-19 cases are on the rise. What should you do if a family member contracts it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Katia Hetter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

What should people exposed to someone with Covid-19 do — must they also stay away from others and how often should they be tested? Individuals who had at least moderate illness and experienced more severe symptoms such as shortness of breath need to isolate through day 10. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty ImagesThe ideal scenario for isolation is for the person with Covid-19 to completely separate from other family members during the initial five days. To me, the most important precaution is for those exposed to Covid-19 to stay away from people vulnerable to severe illness. The quarantine period after exposure is not the time to visit a family member in a nursing home, for example.

Persons: Jill Biden, Joe Biden, Jill Biden’s, Leana Wen, Wen, Let’s, Jill, Brendan Smialowski, handwashing Organizations: CNN, White, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Fort Liberty, Getty Locations: Fort, Fort Liberty , North Carolina, AFP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden turned up in a mask for the first time in months on Tuesday, a day after his wife tested positive for COVID-19. People who are exposed to the coronavirus should wear a mask and monitor for symptoms for 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would be following CDC protocols and would mask indoors unless he was far enough away from someone. The Bidens had COVID-19 last summer, which is about the last time the president wore a mask in public. Officials already are expecting updated COVID-19 vaccines that contain one version of the omicron strain, called XBB.1.5.

Persons: Joe Biden, octogenarians, Biden, Larry Taylor, Jill Biden, COVID, hospitalizations, Karine Jean, Pierre, “, ”, —, Jake Sullivan, we’ve, ” Sullivan, Mike Stobbe Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Centers for Disease Control, Labor, House, Group, CDC, White House Press, India Locations: Vietnam, Florida, Delaware, Philadelphia, Rehoboth, Virginia, India, Alaska, New York

The coronavirus strain nicknamed “eris” was responsible for more than 1 in 5 new infections in recent weeks, according to updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. EG.5, or “eris,” is the top strain circulating in the U.S., causing nearly 22% of cases over the past two weeks, according to CDC data. Its rise in the U.S. comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased for six straight weeks. According to the CDC, BA.2.86 was responsible for less than 1% of infections over the past two weeks in the U.S. The CDC updated its risk assessment for BA.2.86 this week.

Persons: ”, It’s Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, EG, World Health Organization, WHO, CDC, U.S Locations: U.S

☆ When to wear masks as Covid cases rise, new variants emerge in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An uptick in Covid cases and hospitalizations in the U.S., and the emergence of new variants of the virus, are prompting questions about whether Americans should start masking up again. One thing's for sure: People infected with Covid should wear masks around others to prevent the spread of the virus. That includes your personal risk level, Covid rates in your region and who you might make contact with, public health experts said. Newer Covid variants like the now-dominant EG.5, or "Eris," and a handful of XBB strains have fueled the rise. New Covid shots from Pfizer , Moderna and Novavax are slated to roll out in mid-September, and will likely provide robust protection against those variants.

Persons: Michael Nason, Donna Nason, Andrew Pekosz, Francesca Torriani, Pavitra, Axios Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, CNBC, CDC, U.S, Pfizer, Moderna, University of California, University of Washington School of Medicine Locations: Bakersfield, Los Angeles , CA, California, U.S, Covid, San Diego

Coronavirus is on the rise in the U.S., prompting questions about when Americans can roll up their sleeves for the next COVID-19 vaccine. The updated shots target XBB.1.5, which was responsible for less than 5% of new coronavirus infections in recent weeks. But all the strains circulating are still descendants of omicron, so experts believe the shots will still protect against severe COVID-19 from the variants. Historically, vaccine uptake decreases each time a new coronavirus shot is offered. Just 17% of Americans as of May rolled up their sleeves for the latest round of shots offered.

Persons: it’s, Biden, ” Mandy Cohen, Novavax, – Cohen, ” Cohen, Cohen, ” Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, CDC, Food and Drug Administration, Pfizer, FDA, EG Locations: U.S, COVID, Moderna

☆ Covid-19 has changed and so has our immunity. Here’s how to think about risk from the virus now
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Brenda Goodman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

So if people are less likely to be hospitalized or die from a Covid-19 infection now, has the danger passed? Through genetic bad luck, some people may just be at higher risk of serious reactions to Covid-19 infections, and they probably wouldn’t know it. Researchers defined it as any new or continuing symptoms more than 90 days after a Covid-19 infection. Based on his experience treating long Covid patients, Griffin said that the percentage reported in the Australian paper seems high. Earlier in the pandemic, pediatric infectious disease specialists were on the lookout for a rare complication of Covid-19 infection in kids called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C.MIS-C starts two to six weeks after a Covid-19 infection.

Persons: CNN —, we’ve, aren’t, Good, ”, Megan Ranney, Covid, ” Ranney, that’s, Evusheld, haven’t, you’ve, they’re, They’re, Mandy Cohen, It’s, –, Jesse Bloom, Daniel Griffin, it’s ‘, Griffin, “, Peter Chin, Chin, Hong, Nathaniel Hendrix, Hendrix, it’s, hasn’t, she’s, Kristin Englund, shouldn’t, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, “ It’s, Ellie Murray, ” Murray Organizations: CNN, US Centers for Disease Control, Yale School of Public Health, Covid, National Institutes of Health, FDA, US Department of Health, Human Services, CDC, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, HHS, Columbia University, University of California, Census Bureau, Nature Medicine, American Board of Family Medicine, Nature, Veterans Affairs, Cleveland Clinic, CNN Health, Boston University School of Public Health Locations: South Africa, Botswana, United States, China, Seattle, Israel, Denmark, United Kingdom, Portugal, US, Switzerland, Thailand, Australia, San Francisco, Ohio

☆ China had almost 2 million excess deaths after the end of ‘zero-Covid,’ U.S. study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Jennifer Jett | Cheng Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There were almost 2 million excess deaths in the two months after China lifted its "zero-Covid" restrictions, a U.S. study found, contradicting official figures from Beijing that have been criticized as too low. Researchers estimate there were 1.87 million excess deaths from all causes among people 30 years and older from December 2022 to January, according to the study from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle published Thursday. "Our study of excess deaths related to the lifting of the zero-Covid policy in China sets an empirically derived benchmark estimate," the researchers wrote. The way the study estimates data is not "scientifically rigorous," but it is nonetheless an "objective" and "beneficial" attempt, Jin added. Jin said the actual data could be a few percentage points lower or higher than the study estimates.

Persons: Fred, Jan, Zhanwei Du, Lauren Ancel Meyers, Jin Dong, Jin Organizations: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Hong, University of Texas, Baidu Locations: China, U.S, Beijing, Seattle, Tibet, University of Hong Kong, Austin

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