China says COVID deaths, severe cases have fallen over 70% since peak Critically ill COVID-19 cases in China are down 72% from a peak early this month while daily deaths among COVID-19 patients in hospitals have dropped 79% from their peak, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday. Reuters Reuters

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CDC chief to create new offices to boost public health response - Bloomberg News The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky is creating new offices as part of the agency's revamp to prioritize public health response, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. Reuters Reuters

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Pandemic jobless benefits fraud likely tops $60 billion. House GOP to start investigating next week | CNN Politics More than $60 billion may have been paid out in fraudulent unemployment insurance benefits during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report released Monday by the US Government Accountability Office. Tami Luhby CNN

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Only 1% of immune-impaired US adults have gotten the recommended 5 COVID vaccine doses CIDRAP

Only 41% of US adults with impaired immune systems, who are at high risk for poor COVID-19 outcomes, have received four doses of mRNA vaccine, and less than 1% had received the recommended five doses as of August, according to a study published late last week in JAMA Network Open.

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WHO seeks $2.5 billion to battle health emergencies The World Health Organization on Monday launched a funding appeal for $2.54 billion to help people facing health emergencies across the world including in conflicts in Yemen, Syria and Ukraine. Reuters Reuters

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GAO: HHS Could Improve Oversight of Research Involving Enhanced Potential Pandemic Pathogens - HS Today HHS also oversees research involving certain pandemic pathogens through its Federal Select Agent Program. Homeland Security Today Hstoday

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What doctors wish patients knew about COVID-19 reinfection Newer COVID-19 variants are contributing to second or even third SARS-CoV-2 infections. Learn how to avoid the worse outcomes linked to reinfection. American Medical Association

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Eight in 10 people in China caught Covid since early December, say officials Reported death toll surges to 72,000 after zero-Covid restrictions lifted; some experts estimate 1m deaths the Guardian

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US adults cite misbeliefs about eligibility, immunity for not getting COVID booster The most-cited reasons for not getting new COVID-19 boosters were lack of awareness about eligibility and overestimations of their own existing immunity. CIDRAP

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After participants were given information on eligibility and availability, 67.8% of those who hadn't gotten a booster said that they would pursue one; a survey 1 month later showed that 28.6% of these participants had done so.

CDC is talking to airlines about wastewater testing in planes. New reports support that strategy. Analyzing airplane sewage could help scientists track new Covid variants entering the U.S., or identify novel pathogens. NBC News

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The U.S. has been monitoring for the coronavirus in wastewater since the CDC launched its National Wastewater Surveillance System in September 2020. But that testing mainly involves wastewater from households or buildings, not samples from airports or planes.

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Navajo Nation rescinds mask mandate on vast reservation The Navajo Nation has rescinded a mask mandate that's been in effect since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Friday, fulfilling a pledge that new tribal President Buu Nygren made while campaigning for the office. AP NEWS

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