U.S.                                                                  California

                                   CASES               DEATHS                                     CASES              DEATHS       

December 2020    19,111,443              341,149                              2,120,610               24,241

2021   Timeline

January                  26,185,362              441,319                              3,310,949               40,702

December             54,859,966              825,816                              5,515,250               76,520

2022 Timeline

January                 74,333,528              884,265                              8,292,735               79,801

December          100,751,994           1,092,674                            11,829,499               98,637

2023 Timeline

January               104,196,861           1,132,935                           11,964,001                99,944

February              105,345,992          1,146,142                            12,084,297              100,816

March                 106,102,029           1,153,730                            12,155,825              101,798

April                     106,630,327           1,159,839                            12,221,606              102,390  

May                     107,085,763           1,164,967                            12,263,722              102,769

June                    107,280,827           1,167,763                            12,292,399              103,169

July                     107,437,289            1,169,154                            12,301,545              103,216

August                108,105,276              173,745                            12,374,490              104,562

UPDATED WEEKLY – Worldometer, Last updated on 24 September 2023

POPULATION - is 340,423,063 of 24 September 2023, 1:48 am PST, based on Census U.S. and World Population Clock.

      *  updated information

    **  no updated information at this reporting

                              Worldometer

Cases Worldwide  

• TOTAL CASES       -    695,724,657

            Recovered          -    667,745,245

• TOTAL DEATHS     -        6,919,335

Cases in the U.S.

• TOTAL CASES       -    108,587,015

            Recovered          -    106,338,217

• TOTAL DEATHS     -        1,176,092
  • Employment increased by 187,000 in August. 
  • The unemployment rate fell to 3.8%

Cases in California

• TOTAL CASES       -      12,431,712

            Recovered          -      12,242,036

• TOTAL DEATHS     -           104,802

                     *   Correction

                   **    No updated information

09/24/2023 (WHO)                 Cases            Deaths      Recovered    

• Texas                    -    8,814,056          94,908         8,630,322        
• Florida                  -    7,792,934          90,740         7,643,507        
• New York             -    7,150,408          78,103         7,039,040        
• Ohio*                   -    3,504,742          42,522         3,430,857         
• Georgia               -   3,157,491           43,095        3,089,665   
• Tennessee*          -   2,588,139           29,734        2,548,828
• Arizona                -   2,511,308           33,757         2,464,411           
• Louisiana             -   1,666,862           19,192         1,620,733
• Nevada               -     911,068           12,131            891,755
• W. Virginia           -     659,117             8,203            644,710

​ *    no updated information at this reporting. Listed are states deleted from list due to no

      updates for an extended period.

            **   correction no updates for an extended time and deleted from list

Changes in Vaccination Data Reporting

On June 16, the COVID-19 vaccination reporting system will track only two types of vaccinations–primary series and CDC’s new up-to-date measure. The reporting system will update data monthly and stop publishing average doses administered and doses on hand.

• https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
• https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/ - fullyVaccinatedhttps://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations
• https://www.edd.ca.gov/newsroom/unemployment-may-2021.htm
• https://www.bls.gov/
• https://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm
• https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/

COVID UPDATE

HEALTH UPDATES

Flesh-eating bacteria kills eight in US, prompting warnings of swimming in sea and eating shellfish.  Sun, August 20, 2023 at 9:33 AM PDT.   A rare, flesh-eating bacteria has killed eight people on the US east coast, prompting warnings from authorities over swimming in the sea and eating shellfish.

Five of the deaths from the vibrio vulnificus bacteria, considered a serious condition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, occurred in Florida.  Vibrio vulnificus is a type of gram-negative bacterium found in warm, shallow coastal water affecting humans and primates.  First discovered in 1979, this Vibrio species is common in the Gulf of Mexico, parts of the East and West Coasts of the United States, including the Gulf Coast region comprising Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi.

The five deaths occurred in the southeastern state’s Tampa Bay area.   Health officials are warning those with open wounds to stay out of the water to avoid infection.  The other three fatalities took place in Long Island, New York and Connecticut. 

• The people from Connecticut were swimming in Long Island Sound, a tidal estuary of the Atlantic Ocean.
• A third victim was hospitalized after reportedly eating raw oysters at an out-of-state establishment.
• Health officials in New York are still examining how the person came into contact with the bacteria.

There have been 26 reported cases of vibrio vulnificus infections in the state since January.  Last year, Florida reported 74 cases and 17 deaths.  The high death toll in 2022 was attributed to increased bacteria levels after Hurricane Ian spilled sewage into the ocean.

Surge of infections - A surge in infections in recent decades, has been linked by experts to climate change.  Research published earlier this year in the journal Nature Portfolio found that bacteria and infections were spreading northwards up the east coast at a rate of about 30 miles a year, as the coastal waters where the bacteria lives warms.

If contracted from eating undercooked shellfish, the disease causes gastrointestinal symptoms including fever, chills and vomiting.

The bacteria is linked to necrotising fasciitis, a potentially fatal fast-spreading bacterial infection which kills one in five people. Treatment can entail limb amputations, with those most at risk - the immune-compromised. 

Vibrio Vulnificus: The Flesh-Eating Bacteria.   Posted on: December 15, 2018.  When infected with V. vulnificus, patients can suffer an array of symptoms ranging from:

• serious gastroenteritis, consuming affected seafood
• soft tissue infections  
• necrotizing fasciitis, known as flesh-eating bacteria.

How Do You Get Vibrio Vulnificus?  Most people contract V. vulnificus as a result of consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, such as raw oysters or skin infections when an open wound is exposed to salt water.  According to the CDC, living in hurricane-prone regions is a high-risk factor for a vulnificus infection due to exposure to coastal water, particularly between the months of May and October, when water temperatures are warmer (9° to 31 °C).

What Are the Early Signs of Vibrio Infection?  Symptoms of a Vibrio infection usually occur within 24 hours of coming into contact with the bacteria. According to the CDC, early signs include:

• Watery or bloody diarrhea
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach cramping and abdominal pain
• Fever
• Headache

If you contracted a V. vulnificus infection through an open wound, you may also develop a skin infection or bloodstream infection, known as primary septicemia.  Bloodstream infections are more common in patients who are immunocompromised, such as those with chronic liver disease.  In severe cases such as these, septic shock kicks in, increasing the likelihood of death.  Symptoms include:

• fever, chills,
• low blood pressure,
• skin lesions and blistering.  Open-wound exposure can also lead to swelling, redness and pain near the infection site.

Vibrio Treatment Options.  Patients with vulnificus infections will need antibiotics to fight off the Vibrio species.  It is imperative to seek prompt treatment.  The longer treatment is delayed, the higher the mortality rate.   The most effective treatments include doxycycline, tetracycline, third-generation cephalosporins, and imipenem.  Unfortunately, this aggressive bacterium has become resistant to certain antibiotic profiles due to the widespread misuse of antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance to V. vulnificus has reached alarming levels in many countries, rendering current treatment methods for bacterial infections in jeopardy, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Scientists are attempting to create an effective Vibrio vulnificus vaccine.  In the meantime, boosting your immune system with nutrients like vitamin C, zinc, and essential amino acids can go far in protecting your health.

VARIANT UPDATE

What to Know About EG.5, Eris—the Latest Coronavirus Strain.  AUGUST 18, 2023.  A Yale Medicine expert explains whether EG.5 is more transmissible or severe than previous Omicron sub-variants.  Viruses mutate, this summer that strain is called EG.5 or informally, Eris - after the Greek goddess of strife and discord.  A descendant of Omicron, Eris is already the dominant coronavirus sub--variant in the country, infecting more people than any other single strain.

EG.5 isn’t setting off alarms from disease severity, although early reports show it may be more transmissible.  Early reports have shown EG.5 spreading faster than any other currently circulating strain.  It has surpassed XBB.1.16, Arcturus another highly contagious Omicron sub-variant. 

How prevalent is EG.5, the latest coronavirus sub-variant?  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC estimates, EG.5 responsible for 20.6% of COVID-19 cases in the United States at the end of the third week of August.  That same week, a strain called FL 1.5.1, Fornax, which is reported to be surging rapidly in the U.S. and accounted for 13.3% of cases, was second, followed by a mix of other XBB strains and descendants of Omicron.

EG.5 does have one new mutation in its spike that can potentially evade some of the immunity acquired after an infection or vaccination.  “Similar to all variants that have arisen, there is some extra degree of immune evasiveness because of a slight difference in genotype,” says Dr. Roberts.  The WHO has classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” and should monitor it more closely than other strains because of mutations that could make it more contagious or severe.  The CDC has not yet updated its variant classification page.

It may be worth noting that, except in rare cases, the original version of Omicron, the original strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the Alpha or Delta variants are is no longer circulating

Will the new booster shot expected this fall protect against EG.5?  The new booster won’t be an exact match for EG.5.  Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are all developing versions focused on Omicron XBB 1.5, a close relative.  Moderna announced, early clinical trials show its booster shot will effectively target the EG.5 and FL 1.5.1 sub-variants.

“The two strains, EG.5 and XBB.1.5, are not identical, but pretty close.  We've seen throughout the pandemic that if there is a similar genetic code among Omicron sub-variants,” Dr. Roberts says.

Anticipation of three viruses—SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—hitting at once in the fall and winter seasons has contributed to fears of another “tripledemic.”

What we know about the Covid variant EG.5 dubbed 'Eris'.  Published 10 August.  The World Health Organization, WHO, has declared a new sub-variant of Covid called EG.5 or "Eris", a variant of interest and is asking countries to monitor it as cases grow globally.  In its latest assessment, the WHO includes EG.5 and sub-variants very closely related to it, including 5G.5.1.  Some tests suggest it can evade our immune systems more easily than some circulating variants but this has not been translated into people becoming more seriously ill.

In the UK, there has been a small increase in people in hospital in recent weeks, particularly those aged over 85.  "Eris" was classified as a Covid variant in the UK 31 July, but is not classed as a variant of concern.  According to the WHO, infections have been reported in 51 countries, including China, the US, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia, Singapore, the UK, France, Portugal and Spain.

Everything we know about the EG.5 covid-19 variant and its symptoms.  EG.5, the latest omicron covid-19 sub-variant that is being dubbed "Eris", may spread more easily than past versions of the virus and could evade immunity.  14 August 2023.  EG.5 is a descendant of the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant, first recorded in November 2021.  The sub-variant also has an offshoot, dubbed EG.5.1, which contains an additional spike protein mutation.  It is closely related to XBB.1.9.2, another omicron sub-variant, but has an extra spike protein mutation. 

Where has EG.5 been identified? And how prevalent is it?  As of 7 August, EG.5 cases had been reported to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data by 51 countries, including China, the US, Australia and Japan.

The U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that EG.5 is responsible for 17 per cent of SARS-CoV-2 cases, making it the fastest growing and most common version of SARS-CoV-2 in the country.  The UK Health Security Agency estimates 14 per cent of SARS-CoV-2 cases in England are EG.5.

Levels of immunity are waning as it is now some time since most people were vaccinated or boosted.  To avoid infection, the general advice of regular handwashing still applies, he says.

VACCINE UPDATE

Updated Covid-19 vaccines are coming mid-September, officials say.   CNN, Updated 8:25 AM EDT, Fri August 25, 2023.   Covid-19 vaccines that have been tweaked, to teach the body how to fend off the current circulating variants, are expected to land in drugstores and clinics in mid-September indicated CDC and FDA officials.

The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to give its nod to the updated vaccines in a few weeks. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, independent experts advising the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will weigh the safety and effectiveness of the new shots and make recommendations for use, then after the CDC or sign off, the vaccines can be administered.

Officials indicated levels that are about one-third of where they were a year ago, largely thanks to immunity from vaccinations and prior infections.  17% of those eligible got the bivalent vaccines last fall, the last time the immunizations were updated.  Three vaccines are expected to be available this year.  Two are mRNA vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna, and a protein subunit vaccine from Novavax.  The Novavax vaccine uses an older type of technology that contains the spike protein of the virus that causes Covid-19, plus an ingredient that revs up the immune system to crank out antibodies against it.  It may be time to break out the masks against Covid some experts say

The FDA plans to grant full licensure for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for people 12 and older. Vaccines for children 11 and under, the Novavax vaccine will be available under an emergency use authorization, the officials said.

The vaccines have been updated to teach the body to fight the XBB.1.5 coronavirus sub-variant.  They are also expected to retain potency against closely related strains.   All three vaccine manufacturers indicate testing shows their vaccines are effective against EG.5, the current dominant strain in the US.

While vaccines were previously provided for free by the government.  This is the first time vaccines will be provided through the commercial market.  Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are required to cover the full cost of vaccines, without co-pays.  Those who don’t have insurance or don’t have enough insurance, can still get vaccines for free through a government bridge program.

There are a significant number of Covid-19 tests in the Strategic National Stockpile.  The government has been sending those free tests to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, federally qualified health centers, school, libraries and a number of other places that serve the public.  There’s also the option to bring back Covidtest.gov, the website where people can order free tests.

How to Protect Yourself?  Getting vaccinated is your best bet!

IT’S NOT OVER!

Stay safe.  Mask.  Social distance.  Frequent hand washing.  Avoid crowds

ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL

• https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/covid-eg5-eris-latest-coronavirus-strain
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-66461727
• https://www.newscientist.com/article/2387324-everything-we-know-about-the-eg-5-covid-19-variant-and-its-symptoms/?_ptid=%7Bkpdx%7DAAAAypVSIanzdAoKcmJhNGYxWmNwZRIQbGxqdDdsNTh1MzAwZHkxMBoMRVhMRlE5SEFCMVVTIiUxODIzdnM4MDdzLTAwMDAzMmdrOXBsb2x2aWNwYWk5N2QxbHI0KhpzaG93VGVtcGxhdGVaVERKOFlZMk1MWFU4NzABOgxPVDlHNEkxWkU2REdSEnYtdQDwMXNvb2gxNXlnMFomMjYwMDoxNzAwOjUwYTA6YzgwOjMxZmU6MjQ4YTo5NDFlOjgzZTliA2R3Y2jm5o6nBnAKeAQ
• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eg-5-eris-covid-symptoms-113000670.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall
• https://news.yahoo.com/flesh-eating-bacteria-kills-eight-163358018.html
• https://aminoco.com/blogs/health/vibrio-vulnificus-flesh-eating-bacteria?gclid=Cj0KCQjw84anBhCtARIsAISI-xeZ2AL4Acz2EGZmSHMvTBr4U4FHWcO4HYvsixCEIZpY1GvliFF-1uwaAgdMEALw_wcB
• https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/25/health/covid-vaccine-release/index.html