September 24 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Tara John and Ed Upright, CNN

Updated 12:00 a.m. ET, September 25, 2020
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3:34 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Fauci on vaccine approval: Interference from sources outside of science is "troublesome"

From CNN's Andrea Kane

Emory
Emory

The decision to change the criteria under which a coronavirus vaccine would get approval or be given an emergency use authorization is, under normal circumstances, up to the US Food and Drug Administration.

And while there might be some legitimate scientific considerations to override the FDA’s proposal, any interference that comes from outside of science is “troublesome,” Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday during an online conversation with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta. 

“The issue is that the scientists and the FDA have put this forth as what their proposal for the criteria for EUA. Under normal circumstances, that decision is theirs, the secretary approves it and that's it. Something that comes from without, that is not a scientific consideration, would be troublesome, I'd have to tell you,” Fauci said during the conversation, organized by Emory University.

Fauci was asked about President Trump trying to make an “end run” around an FDA’s proposal to wait at least 60 days after at least 50% of trial participants were vaccinated to evaluate any vaccine for safety. Most adverse events happen within that two-month window.

“But remember there is some degree of flexibility,” said Fauci. “The thing that could modify that, and modify it within the scientific realm of being scientifically justifiable, is that if the vaccine is so overwhelmingly effective that you would say the risk-benefit of having adverse events override the benefit of getting a 98% effective vaccine earlier rather than waiting 60 days. That's something that even we scientists would say, 'You know, we should really take a look at that; you might want to shorten that.'”

##Vaccines

1:43 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

CDC's ensemble forecast now projects up to 226,000 US Covid-19 deaths by Oct. 17

From CNN’s Ben Tinker

An ensemble forecast published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now projects there will be 214,000 to 226,000 coronavirus deaths in the United States by Oct. 17.

Unlike some individual models, the CDC’s ensemble forecast only offers projections a few weeks into the future. The previous ensemble forecast, published Sept. 17, projected up to 218,000 coronavirus deaths by Oct. 10.

At least 202,344 people have already died from Covid-19 in the United States, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

 

6:03 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

UK records highest number of new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic 

As the second wave of the pandemic grips Europe, the United Kingdom has recorded 6,634 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours – the highest daily increase since the start of the pandemic.

This brings the total number of cases confirmed across the country to at least 416,363, Public Health England tweeted on Thursday.

 

The latest government data comes after the UK had registered on Wednesday another record in coronavirus cases since May.

At least 40 more deaths were reported on Thursday. The total death toll now stands at 41,902.  

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story and headline incorrectly described the timeframe for the previous highest daily increase in coronavirus cases. The previous highest daily increase was at the beginning of the pandemic.

12:17 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Fauci: "There's good enough data to say that aerosol transmission does occur"

From CNN's Amanda Watts

Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies at a hearing in Washington, DC, on September 23.
Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies at a hearing in Washington, DC, on September 23. Alex Edelman/Pool/Getty Images

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading infectious disease expert, believes “there's good enough data to say that aerosol transmission does occur.”

Speaking to New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Thursday, Fauci explained, “Aerosol means the droplets don't drop immediately – they hang around for a period of time.”

“Generally if you have droplets that come out of a person, they generally go down within six feet. So, if you're six feet distance, you’re wearing a mask, you don't worry about that,” he said.

This becomes “very relevant” when you are inside where there is poor ventilation. 

Fauci said we shouldn’t be “getting bent out of shape,” about whether Covid-19 aerosolizes or not. “Act like it's occurring – and then do the same thing you've been doing otherwise.” 

“Which means: Wear the mask,” he added.

12:43 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Over 80% of Covid-19 cases in Africa could be asymptomatic, WHO warns

From CNN's Bethlehem Feleke in Nairobi

A health worker in Centurion, South Africa, tests someone for Covid-19 on July 23.
A health worker in Centurion, South Africa, tests someone for Covid-19 on July 23. Alet Pretorius/Gallo Images/Getty Images

While confirmed Covid-19 cases and death rates remain low in many African countries, early results in some communities suggest a higher number of infections than those reported, said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa.

"Preliminary analysis suggests that over 80% of cases in Africa are asymptomatic," she said during a press briefing Thursday. 

The swift action of governments on the continent to impose early lockdowns, and the public's general adherence to movement restrictions, created a "window of opportunity" to keep cases low, Dr. Moeti said. Since many countries have begun easing restrictions and opening economies back up, there has been an uptick of cases.

But experts are unable to conclusively explain the low death rates on the continent. "We don't know the exact factors that are causing it, we just know that some of the factors are more probable," said Dr. Sam Agatre Okuonzi from Uganda.

The panel described probable factors such as a majority youthful population, the frequency with which many Africans spend outdoors and the less movement and interaction in rural areas, as potential explanations. 

Another potential factor scientists are studying is the level of potential cross-immunity that has developed from exposure to previous coronaviruses. 

"Research is required to characterize the disease and the pandemic in Africa and this work is just beginning," Dr. Okuonzi said.

11:26 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

FDA chief still won't comment on Trump's threat to override vaccine rules

From CNN's John Bonifield

President Donald Trump and Dr. Stephen Hahn hold a briefing at the White House on August 23.
President Donald Trump and Dr. Stephen Hahn hold a briefing at the White House on August 23. Alex Brandon/AP

US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn on Thursday declined to comment on statements from President Trump that the White House could override the agency if it released tougher standards for the authorization of a Covid-19 vaccine candidate.

"We decline to comment," an agency spokesperson said, after an inquiry from CNN requesting a response from Hahn.

Some background: The FDA is considering new guidelines for the authorization of a Covid-19 vaccine, according to three sources familiar with the situation. The rules would allow additional time to evaluate the safety of the vaccine.

Calculations show the rules would push an emergency authorization of a vaccine beyond Election Day.

The President said Wednesday, "We may or may not approve" the guidelines, casting them "as a political move more than anything else."

In explaining his reasoning, the President said, "I have tremendous trust in these massive companies. ... When they come back and they say that we have something that works and absolutely works, and they're coming back with great numbers and statistics and tests and everything else that they have to come back with, I don't see any reason why it should be delayed further. Because if they delay it a week or two weeks or three weeks, that's a lot of lives you're talking about."

The FDA on Wednesday told CNN it was "respectfully" declining to comment when asked about President Trump's statement.

11:11 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

As a second coronavirus wave hits Europe, some schools blame outbreaks on partying

From Amy Cassidy in Glasgow

Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne is pictured in Switzerland on September 23.
Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne is pictured in Switzerland on September 23. Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone/AP

As Europe endures its second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of students in several universities across Europe are self-isolating following mass outbreaks of Covid-19 that local officials blame on partying.

Here's a look at some of the schools:

  • All 2,500 students at Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland’s most prestigious hospitality school, are quarantining following a “major outbreak” in infection, according to the Vaud Canton regional authority on Wednesday." The initial investigation shows that the organization of one or more parties would be at the origin of these numerous outbreaks of infection," the school said.
  • Meanwhile, in Scotland, several universities have reported recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in halls of residency, which is being linked to illegal gatherings during start of term celebrations known as “Freshers’ Week”. On Wednesday, 600 students at the University of Glasgow were told to self-isolate after 124 new cases were confirmed since the beginning of term.
  • And the principal of the University of St. Andrews, one of the UK’s most elite schools, asked students to go into voluntary lockdown last Friday following an uptick in cases “all linked” to one party during Freshers’ Week that “broke the law”, he said.
  • More than 500 students at Scotland’s Abertey and Aberdeen Universities have also been forced to quarantine, with local health boards investigating the outbreaks.

 

10:14 a.m. ET, September 24, 2020

How Google Maps can show you how bad Covid-19 is near you

From CNN's Jordan Valinsky

Google Maps will soon show the number of Covid-19 cases in an area.
Google Maps will soon show the number of Covid-19 cases in an area. Google

Google Maps will soon show how prevalent coronavirus is in geographic areas with a new color-coded update.

Beginning this week, the Maps app will display seven-day averages of new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 people. The chosen areas will show if cases are increasing or decreasing and be shaded with one of six colors to signify how many new cases were reported

Google is pulling data from three sources: Johns Hopkins University, the New York Times, and Wikipedia. They receive their data from the World Health Organization and other public or government health organizations. Information is available for all 220 countries that Google Maps works in. 

Read the full article here.

1:47 p.m. ET, September 24, 2020

Tennessee Department of Education releases data on learning loss among K-12 students

From CNN's Tami Luhby

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Tennesee's Department of Education released data on Wednesday showing significant learning loss for the state's K-12 students following the closure of schools for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year and through the summer.

According to the data projections, 3rd graders have an estimated 50% decrease in reading proficiency and an estimated 65% decrease in proficiency in math.

“This data highlights the immense challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created for our students and educators,” said Gov. Lee in the release. “The vast majority of students learn best in-person with their teacher, and we’ll continue to help provide a safe environment for Tennessee students to get their educational journeys back on track.”

According to the release, these projections show that learning loss among Tennessee's students from March could be as much as two and a half times more than a normal "summer slide" academic loss. The learning loss has a more significant impact on younger students than older students, the release said, putting those younger students at risk of falling further behind as they progress in later school years.

"We know that increased time away from school has negative implications for students, which is compounded during extended building closures,” said Tennessee Commissioner of Education Penny Schwinn.

The 2020-21 school year in Tennessee has a range of learning scenarios across its districts including in-person, hybrid, and all virtual.