AP- The rise of more contagious variants of the coronavirus is threatening an encouraging trend of falling COVID-19 cases across the USA..

New U.S. cases of COVID-19 on Sunday dropped below 100,000 for the first time since November, a hopeful sign after a brutal post-Thanksgiving period that saw cases, hospitalizations and deaths spike.

Health officials are urging the public and governors not to ease up on precautions despite the somewhat improved situation, given that measures like wearing a mask and distancing from others are even more important when the virus is more contagious.

In addition, while the trend is going in a positive direction, the levels of cases, hospitalizations and deaths are still much higher than either of the previous peaks in the spring and summer of last year.

There were 96,000 new cases on Sunday, according to the COVID Tracking Project, down from a peak of almost 300,000 in early January. But that is still far above any level experts would consider a goal. It is still higher than the peak of cases over the summer, for example, which was around 75,000 cases per day.

Around 3,000 people are dying every day from the virus, and around 80,000 are in the hospital with COVID-19.

Still, the positive trend has spurred some governors to start loosening restrictions.

In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) last week lifted the mask mandate and distancing restrictions on restaurants and bars.

While that is perhaps the most drastic recent move, other states have been taking more gradual steps to ease back. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) announced that indoor dining can return at 25 percent capacity in New York City ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Asked about Iowa’s decision, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky on Monday urged states not to lift precautions, in part citing the rise of new variants of the virus.

“We still have this emerging threat of variants, and I would just simply discourage any of those activities,” she said. “We really need to keep all of the mitigation measures at play here if we’re really going to get control of this pandemic.”

Highlighting the threat of a more contagious variant of the virus first identified in the United Kingdom, a study released Sunday found that the variant is doubling every 10 days in the U.S. and will likely become the dominant strain in many states by March.

Because the variant is 35 to 45 percent more transmissible, experts warn its rise could lead to a sharp spike in cases and hospitalizations.

“We certainly do expect to see a spike in cases” on the current trajectory, said Karthik Gangavarapu, a researcher at the Scripps Research Institute and one of the authors of the study. “We still don’t know how much of a spike it will be.”

Ramping up genomic sequencing to keep track of the prevalence of different variants, as well as additional contact tracing efforts from local public health departments aimed at slowing the spread of the UK variant, could both help in the fight, Gangavarapu said.

Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, issued a warning by pointing to the example of Ireland, which was hit hard by the new variant. It peaked at 132 new cases per 100,000 people in early January. “US has never seen numbers like that. Only the Dakotas had infection rates that high,” Jha wrote on Twitter.

Jha added he is “optimistic about late spring and summer,” given that vaccines will be more widely available by then, but he said the next few weeks are more worrisome.

While there are not enough available vaccines to immunize everyone in the next couple of months, and there are logistical challenges in getting shots into millions of arms, the faster the vaccination campaign can go, the more any spike from the new variant will be blunted.

Encouragingly, the vaccines appear to work well against the UK variant.

But another variant, first identified in South Africa, is more concerning based on the initial data. The results so far have suggested some dropoff in how well vaccines work with the South African variant. That variant has also been found in the U.S., but is less prevalent so far.

Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, wrote that the recent improving trends are likely due to a continued recovery from the post-holiday peak, when a surge in travel and indoor gatherings led to spikes.

“Now is not the time to let our guard down,” he wrote on Twitter. “We’re making progress with vaccines, but variants are coming.”

Tags South Africa United Kingdom CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rochelle Walensky Andrew Cuomo Coronavirus COVID-19 Vaccines

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GENEVA — The emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, serve as a powerful reminder that viruses by their very nature mutate, and that the scientific response may need to adapt if they are to remain effective against them.

In light of recent news stories regarding the preliminary data on minimal effectiveness of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine at preventing mild to moderate COVID-19 disease caused by the viral variant B.1.351, it is important to note that primary analysis of data from Phase III trials has so far shown – in the context of viral settings without this variant – that the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine offers protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death. This means it is vitally important now to determine the vaccine’s effectiveness when it comes to preventing more severe illness caused by the B.1.351 variant.

Additional studies will also allow us to confirm the optimal vaccination schedule and its impact on vaccine efficacy. CEPI has announced funding for additional clinical research to optimize and extend the use of existing vaccines, which could include “mix-and-match” studies of different vaccines used in combinations that may improve the quality and strength of the immune response. Such studies could be useful in optimizing the use of available vaccines, including the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) convened today to review evidence on the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, including emerging evidence on performance against viral variants, and to consider the demonstrated impact of the product and the risk-benefit assessment for use cases with limited data. These recommendations for use of the AstraZeneca product are being finalised and will be presented to the WHO Director-General on February 9.

Even though this recent news on effectiveness of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine against the B.1.351 variant is based on a limited study size which focused on low-risk participants and used interval doses that were not optimized for immunogenicity, these results confirm we must do everything possible to reduce the circulation of the virus, prevent infections and reduce the opportunities for the SARS-CoV-2 to evolve resulting in mutations that may reduce the efficacy of existing vaccines. This means that additionally:
• Manufacturers must be prepared to adjust to the SARS-CoV-2 viral evolution, including potentially providing future booster shots and adapted vaccines, if found to be scientifically necessary.
• Trials must be designed and maintained to allow any changes in efficacy to be assessed, and to be of sufficient scale and diversity to enable clear interpretation of results.
• Enhanced genomic surveillance must be backed by rapid sharing of genetic and meta-data to allow for global coordination and response.
• Priority should be given to vaccinating high-risk groups everywhere in order to ensure maximum global protection against new strains and minimize the risk of transmission.
• Governments and donors, as well as development banks, should further support COVAX in order to ensure equitable access and delivery, as well as meet ongoing research and development costs for next-generation vaccines.
• WHO is enhancing an existing mechanism for tracking and evaluating variants that may affect vaccine composition and expanding that mechanism to provide guidance to manufacturers and countries on changes that may be needed for vaccines.

COVAX was set up to ensure global equitable access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. With the world’s largest actively managed portfolio of COVID-19 vaccine candidates, the COVAX Facility offers its self-financing participants and those eligible for support through the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment access to a diverse range of vaccine candidates, suitable for a broad range of contexts and settings.

The ability to deploy vaccines globally to address the evolving pandemic is more critical than ever, as is the importance of coordination to ensure we do not put the impact and value of vaccines at risk. If new vaccines are required, ensuring global access to these is even more essential, as we continue to see that we are all safe only if everyone is safe.

With regards to the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, COVAX has signed advance purchase agreements with AstraZeneca and Serum Institute of India and has published plans to distribute nearly 350 million doses in the first half of the year. We expect a decision this month from WHO on whether the vaccines will be granted emergency use listing (EUL) as well as a SAGE recommendation on its optimal use. Should EUL be forthcoming, we expect the vaccine to play a key role in our effort to protect high risk persons and to help end the acute phase of the pandemic.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — In the interest of continuing to protect our borders and the health and wellness of our citizens and residents, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, through the National Covid-19 Task Force, has advised that it has implemented a travel advisory in response to the emergence of three new variants of the COVID-19 virus.

These variants have originated in Brazil, South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK). The UK variant of the virus has already appeared in at least three Caribbean Community (CARICOM) territories.

This is cause for concern for the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis; particularly as this UK mutation of the original virus is far more transmissible and carries a higher likelihood of death from the symptoms of COVID-19.

In light of these developments the Federal Government of St. Kitts and Nevis announces the following:

1) Travel advisories have now been issued for the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa and Brazil.

2) Persons intending to travel from these aforementioned destinations are advised not to travel to St. Kitts and Nevis at this time. Moreover, such persons are reminded that travel into the Federation is controlled by the National COVID-19 Task Force. Travellers must be approved by the Ministry of National Security, following the process stipulated on the online platform www.knatravelform.kn.

3) The Federal Government advises all citizens and legal residents returning from any of the aforementioned countries that they will not be denied re-entry into the country but must also process their travel requests through the online platform www.knatravelform.kn.

4) The travel advisories for the United Kingdom, Brazil and South Africa will remain in effect for 30 days, in the first instance, starting from Sunday, February 7.

The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to keeping its citizens and residents safe and well-informed as it continues to manage this ongoing global public health emergency and minimize its impact on our people.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — Hon. Spencer Brand, Minister of Public Works and Physical Planning in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), says the recently purchased milling machine is a sound investment and a significant asset to the Public Works Department (PWD).

Minister Brand’s remarks came during a site visit on February 8 to the road resurfacing work underway on the Island Main Road starting from Horsfords Building Centre to the roundabout at Delta Gas Station.

“The public will recall that last year the Nevis Island Administration purchased a milling machine…I would say it was money well spent,” said Hon. Brand.

The NIA acquired the Wirtgen Cold Milling W150CF milling machine for US $515,000.

Brand explained that because the machine digs up the old asphalt, mills or grinds it up, and that material can be re-used, it will save the government a considerable amount of money. He added that the machine cuts back on the time it takes the road crew to carry out their work.

“The good thing about this machine is it will allow the Nevis Island Administration and Public Works Department to recycle this material,” said Brand. “I recognized that every piece of work we had to do over we had to use all new materials, and I felt that this machine would help us to mill this material, send it back to the asphalt plant, recycle it and use it again. The idea [too] is that this milling machine would help us to speed up the process of our road maintenance program.

“It would be saving the taxpayers of Nevis significant sums of money throughout the years,” said Brand. “It would also help us with the expeditious process of our road maintenance program.”

Brand explained that since the machine was purchased in the fourth quarter of 2020, PWD staff had undergone virtual training on its operation. A representative from the company that supplied the heavy equipment was on hand on February 8 to provide in-person training.

Jevon Williams, Director of the Public Works Department described the present training.

“We are seeing the culmination of a live training exercise that has been going on for the past week with a representative from the supplier of the milling machine,” said Brand. “As part of this training we thought it was important to do an actual on-the-ground project to culminate the training.

“This section of the Island Main Road is a section that has plagued us over an extended period of time,” he said. “It has reached to a point where the life of the asphalt has almost been extinguished and we thought it was a good idea to use this section of road as top priority for the first major project of the milling machine.”

Brand called on road users to cooperate with the department and adhere to the traffic guidelines as it pertains to the re-routing of traffic in the area for the duration of the project.

The resurfacing of the Island Main Road from Horsfords Building Centre to the Rams Shopping Complex, and Pump Road from the Roundabout to Club Trenim, will be undertaken in two phases over a two-week period ending February 19.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The progress and quality of work on the construction of the Technical Wing at the Gingerland Secondary School has received high marks from Hon. Troy Liburd, Junior Minister of Education in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

“I was very pleased to hear that we can expect the building to be somewhere close to completion by the commencement of the new school year,” said Hon. Liburd. “Our students who attend Gingerland Secondary School can look forward to sometime in the near future or sometime in the next upcoming school year to start inhabiting and using this building.

“I know that all of the things that are going to happen here in this building when it’s complete they are only going to be for the benefit of our students and for the benefit of the island of Nevis,” said Liburd. “I am very, very pleased with the progress. I am pleased with the workmanship and the level of work that I have seen. The level of work that I have seen is top quality. I must say that I am very, very happy about what I have seen here.”

Also on the tour were Kevin Barrett, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education in the NIA; Dorson Ottley, TVET Officer in the Department of Education on Nevis, and Lester Blackett Project Manager.

Meanwhile, Oswald Wilfred, Construction Manager for Lefco Equipment Rental and Construction Company, contractor for the project acknowledged that construction was moving along well and gave an update on the status.

“So far in relation to progress, I could say that we are progressing fairly well,” said Wilfred. “We hope to increase the progress as we move along to the finishing stages of the project which is happening soon, probably in February.

“We definitely feel that we should be able to bring in the project at the recommended time probably a little pass it but according to construction you normally have certain difficulties that you have to encounter,” said Wilfred.

Darius Comberbatch, Engineer for FDL Consult Inc. in St. Lucia, consultants for the project noted that their main responsibility is to supervise the contractor’s construction work. He explained that according to the plan, progress at this stage is around 60 percent. However, they had fallen just short of that target.

“We are at around 56 percent, which is around 4 percent light,” said Comberbatch. “We believe with the contractors executing the works and continued progress we should have the project completed before the start of the next school year which will be to everyone’s benefit.”

The project is part of the US $8 million St. Kitts and Nevis Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Enhancement Project, an initiative of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, the Federal Government and the NIA. It is being executed by the TVET Secretariat in the Ministry of Education in St. Kitts.

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BASSWTERRE, St. Kitts — Improving regional air and maritime transportation is crucial to advancing regional integration if the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) is to operate optimally, said officials working in St. Kitts and Nevis’ Regional Integration and Diaspora Unit (RIDU).

“We can’t get the CSME operational to the optimal point without dealing with transportation,” said Samuel Berridge, Assistant Secretary in the RIDU in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Berridge said the issue of transportation has to be dealt with in earnest, however, there is a price tag attached.

“It is a cost, and somebody will have to bite the bullet – either the public or private sector,” said Berridge. “We would need a public-private partnership but then the public should not bear all the cost,” said Mr. Berridge.

His Excellency Lionel Sydney Osborne, Head of the RIDU head and Ambassador to the Caribbean Community and OECS Commissioner shared similar sentiments and raised a very important point concerning air transportation.

“Is it a public good, or is it a profit-making exercise?” asked Ambassador Osborne. “If it really is a public good then one has to understand subsidies that are going to be required if we really want to move persons effectively, quickly… from one point to another. I think it is something which will have to be discussed.”

In terms of rapid ferries, Ambassador Osborne, and Assistant Secretary Berridge shared similar sentiments noting that while some countries report success stories with sea transportation it has proven to be very difficult for others.

“The issue is public-private partnerships. The private sector wants to gain the profits, but they want to spread the cost,” said Berridge. “The same discussions which we have with LIAT in terms of spreading the cost now, Chapter six of the Revised Treaty of [Chaguaramas] speaks about transportation policy. You need to make it more effective, and then there are some less economic points.”

RIDU officials reiterated the importance of improving regional transportation and noted that it will require multi-sectoral support.

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BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — His Excellency The Governor-General Sir S. W. Tapley Seaton, GCMG, CVO, QC, JP, LL.D has dispatched the following message to Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, GCMG, OBE, Ph.D, D.Sc, Governor-General of Grenada.

“As Grenada celebrates the 47th Anniversary of its Independence, on behalf of the Government and People of Saint Kitts and Nevis and on my own behalf, I am pleased to extend to you and the Government and People of Grenada greetings and congratulations.

Please accept, Your Excellency, every good wish for your personal well-being and for the continued progress and prosperity of the People of Grenada.

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PARIS — The Federation’s permanent delegate to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ambassador H.E. David Doyle, conferred this week with his counterpart, H.E. Ambassador Vishal V. Sharma, representing the Republic of India, in an exchange of views on UNESCO activities of mutual interest.

Discussions focused on India’s quest to secure a seat on the influential UNESCO World Heritage Committee, a body on which St. Kitts and Nevis sat for the past four years, and now enjoys the privilege of being the only Small Island Developing States (SIDS) member.

Both envoys agreed that India’s accession to this committee would strengthen the Commonwealth presence on the committee, currently comprising Uganda, Australia, South Africa, and the Federation.

India, a member of UNESCO since 1946, “has much to offer the UNESCO heritage community,” noted Ambassador Doyle, with such world-renowned sites as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Jantar Mantar (Jaipur), making up its 28 world heritage monuments and sites.

The envoys discussed the latest information technology (IT) techniques pioneered by India in creating virtual museums tracing important historical events in the country’s past. Given St. Kitts and Nevis’ work in reconstructing its own historical legacy, and updating its federal world heritage tentative list, it was felt that certain best practices employed in India could be meaningfully used in the Federation.

Ambassador Sharma, who was accredited as India’s permanent delegate to UNESCO in October 2020, had previously worked as part of the Project Team implementing the Museum on Prime Ministers at Teen Murti Bhawan, New Delhi, under the Ministry of Culture.

Underlining the importance of both countries being a member of the Commonwealth, Ambassador Doyle noted “the renewed interest with India’s presence at UNESCO to strengthen the Commonwealth Group to UNESCO”, a dedicated UNESCO committee comprising permanent delegates of the 54 UNESCO member states making up the Commonwealth. A large proportion of this Group is small island developing states seeking to have their voice heard at UNESCO, and at other important international organizations, and representing 20 percent of the UN membership.

The envoys agreed to work together in re-energizing the Commonwealth Group to UNESCO.

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CHARLESTOWN, Nevis — The St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board is celebrating its 43rd anniversary as one of the strongest organisations that has united the people of the two islands, but with time is facing challenges which call for a new vision.

Hon Eugene Hamilton, Federal Minister with responsibility for Social Security, said the institution has helped provide incomes for retired persons over the age of 62 and without income is paying out more than it is receiving in collections. To remedy the situation the minister has strengthened the institution’s board by appointing persons with strong financial skills who will ensure that its income is greater than its expenditure.

“Social Security has its challenges, and it calls for a new vision,” said Hon. Hamilton on February 7. “When this institution started in 1978, the first year it operated, there were $3.3 million dollars in collections. Only $174,000 was paid in benefits.”

In contrast, the Social Security Board received $99.6 million as collections in 2019, but the benefits paid were $101.4 million.

“What does that say to us?” said Hamilton. “That says to us that we have to take a closer look at the way the institution is heading and cut a path that brings this institution to the point where income is greater than expenditure. That basically is what it calls for us to do if we are to ensure that some of you young ones who are paying social security now get a benefit when you get to age 62.”

The Hon. Hamilton, who is also the Federal Minister of Human Settlement, National Health Insurance, Ecclesiastical Affairs, Social Development and Gender Affairs, made the remarks at a thanksgiving service held at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Charlestown, Nevis, in celebration of Social Security’s 43rd anniversary.

The service was also attended by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon Timothy Harris, who is also the Federal Minister of Finance.

“It is why I have strengthened the organization’s board with people with important financial skills to help us to get on that road, so that again, we can see the organisation lengthening its life,” explained Hamilton. “That is the mission.”

The Social Security Board was represented at the service by Chairman Ernest Pistana, with members, Frank Farrell, Faron Lawrence, Dorita Rowland, Jennifer Williams, Candice Dickenson-Caines, and Mr Carl Claxton.

Management and staff were represented by Director of Social Security, Antonio Maynard, and Deputy Director of Social Security Nevis Branch Vernel Powell, and Management and Staff in the Nevis branch office. The sermon was delivered by Pastor Wayne Maynard who dwelt on the building of a secure future based on teaching from Psalm 78. Deputy Director Powell presented a monetary donation, on behalf of the Social Security Board, to Pastor Maynard.

“This is a period when we have to pay attention to what COVID has done to us,” advised Hamilton. “In January, 2020 total wages in the Federation were about $85.7 million, by October when it went down to $58.1 million.

“One shock from COVID reduced the revenue base in the entire country from $85 million to $58 million, so we have to be thrifty in our approach,” he said. “This is why I have charged the board with the responsibility to pay attention, and to make sure that this institution remains as strong as we go through the 2020s, providing benefits to those who need benefits.”

In spite of the challenges, Hamilton assured that the St. Christopher and Nevis Social Security Board remained the most prolific contributor during the period of COVID, as it paid out over $8,500 to people from a stimulus package during that period. It paid $22,739,441.94 in stimulus packages in April, May, June, and September.

“Today as we celebrate 43 years, we celebrate an institution that despite all of the challenges is the strongest in the region, $1.6 billion in assets,” said Hamilton. “There is no other Social Security institution in the region that can compare with the one that we have in St. Kitts and Nevis. I applaud all those, over the many years from the first board to today that have contributed to the strength and to the development of Social Security.”

He also thanked members of the staff who have worked hard to put the Social Security Board in a position in which it is stronger than the rest in the region.

“We are not taking it lightly because my first principle is thrift, even when the going is good, because there are some days when it is going to get bad,” concluded Hamilton. “So I am asking, those who administer Social Security to recognise that and exercise thrift. I am asking you in your homes to also exercise thrift.”

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Rescuers in India’s northern state of Uttarakhand are racing to find more than 100 people missing after a glacier collapsed on Sunday, and sent a wall of water and debris rushing down the mountain.

More than a dozen people lost their lives in the disaster when a portion of the Nanda Devi glacier calved off, sending water smashing through a dam, then surging downstream, damaging another dam project and taking out buildings and trees.

Most of the missing are workers on the two dam projects. Rescuers said they were focusing on saving more than 30 workers stuck inside a tunnel at one of the affected hydropower plants who had been out of contact since the flooding.

Scientists raised concerns that the glacier collapse in the middle of winter could be linked to climate change and a team of experts were expected at the site on Monday to investigate.

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