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D614G mutation in SARS-CoV-2 increases viral fitness and infectivity

October 14, 2020

Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) belongs to the beta-coronavirus family. Coronaviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses, and have one of the largest genomes among RNA viruses.

Out of the 7 known coronaviruses that have infected humans so far, 4 (HCov-229E, HCoV-OC43, HCoV-NL63, CoV-HKU1) can cause seasonal, mild respiratory symptoms in healthy people. In contrast, the SARS-CoV-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) are closely related to SARS-CoV-2 and have caused the 2002-2003 SARS and 2012 MERS epidemics, respectively. The current coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a global public health emergency with over 38 million cases and 1.08 million deaths worldwide to date.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein

The surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has a spike (S) glycoprotein, which is a large homo-trimeric glycoprotein that forms a crown at the virus capsid surface. Each S protomer is further divided into two domains – S1 and S2

U.S. COVID-19 Cases Hit Two-Month High, 10 States Report Record Increases | Top News

October 10, 2020

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| Health Article

(Reuters) – New cases of COVID-19 in the United States hit a two-month high on Friday with over 58,000 infections of the new coronavirus reported and hospitalizations in the Midwest at record levels for a fifth day in a row, according to a Reuters analysis.

Ten of the 50 states reported record one-day rises in cases on Friday, including the Midwestern states of Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri and Ohio. Wisconsin and Illinois recorded over 3,000 new cases for a second day in a row – a two-day trend not seen even during the height of the previous outbreak in the spring, according to Reuters data.

The Western states of Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming also reported their biggest one-day jumps in cases, as did Oklahoma and West Virginia.

Nineteen states have seen record increases in new cases so far in October. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/2SFLb7o)

Amid the resurgence in cases across the nation,

Henry Ford Health increases minimum wage to $15

October 9, 2020

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| Health Magazine

Henry Ford Health System will raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour for more than 3,000 employees, beginning Sunday, CEO Wright Lassiter III announced Friday.

Despite losing millions of dollars this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lassiter said the pay raise helps to fulfill Henry Ford’s mission of improving lives and healing. The raise, which was considered back in 2019 but delayed when the pandemic hit in March, will tack on another $6 million in additional costs.

“We have a critical role to play in removing barriers to opportunity and achieving equity for all — and our team members are a crucial part of the communities we all serve,” Lassiter said in a statement.

“There is a strong association between financial health and security and overall health, a reality that has been driven home over the last eight months for our team members who are on the front

Global health care benefit cost increases expected to jump by more than 8% in 2021, Willis Towers Watson survey finds

October 6, 2020

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| Global Health

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Employer-sponsored health care benefit costs are expected to increase by more than 8% around the globe next year following a year in which the pandemic has had a significant impact on health care utilization and overall costs, according to a survey of medical insurers by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ:WLTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.

The 2021 Global Medical Trends Survey, the largest of its kind, found that medical insurers globally project health care benefit costs will take a sudden drop in 2020 before rebounding to 8.1% in 2021, up from 5.9% this year and 7.2% in 2019. Average increases in the five regions next year will range from 5.8% in Europe to 13.6% in Latin America. Health care benefit cost increases in the U.S. are expected to remain stable at 7.3% next year, according to other Willis Towers Watson

Global health care benefit cost increases expected to jump by more than 8% in 2021, Willis Towers Watson survey finds | 2020-10-06 | Press Releases

October 6, 2020

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| Global Health

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 06, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Employer-sponsored health care benefit costs are expected to increase by more than 8% around the globe next year following a year in which the pandemic has had a significant impact on health care utilization and overall costs, according to a survey of medical insurers by Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company.

The 2021 Global Medical Trends Survey, the largest of its kind, found that medical insurers globally project health care benefit costs will take a sudden drop in 2020 before rebounding to 8.1% in 2021, up from 5.9% this year and 7.2% in 2019. Average increases in the five regions next year will range from 5.8% in Europe to 13.6% in Latin America. Health care benefit cost increases in the U.S. are expected to remain stable at 7.3% next year, according to other Willis Towers

As cold weather arrives, U.S. states see record increases in COVID-19 cases

October 4, 2020

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| Health News

By Lisa Shumaker

(Reuters) – Nine U.S. states have reported record increases in COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, mostly in the upper Midwest and West where chilly weather is forcing more activities indoors.

On Saturday alone, four states – Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin – saw record increases in new cases and nationally nearly 49,000 new infections were reported, the highest for a Saturday in seven weeks, according to a Reuters analysis. Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming also set new records for cases last week.

Daytime highs in many of these states are now in the 50s Fahrenheit (10 Celsius). Health experts have long warned that colder temperatures driving people inside could promote the spread of the virus.

Montana has reported record numbers of new cases for three out of the last four days and also has a record number of COVID-19 patients in its

As Cold Weather Arrives, U.S. States See Record Increases in COVID-19 Cases | Top News

October 4, 2020

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| Health News

(Reuters) – Nine U.S. states have reported record increases in COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, mostly in the upper Midwest and West where chilly weather is forcing more activities indoors.

On Saturday alone, four states – Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana and Wisconsin – saw record increases in new cases and nationally nearly 49,000 new infections were reported, the highest for a Saturday in seven weeks, according to a Reuters analysis. Kansas, Nebraska, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Wyoming also set new records for cases last week.

Daytime highs in many of these states are now in the 50s Fahrenheit (10 Celsius). Health experts have long warned that colder temperatures driving people inside could promote the spread of the virus.

Montana has reported record numbers of new cases for three out of the last four days and also has a record number of COVID-19 patients in its hospitals.

Wisconsin has

Minnesota Department Of Health Announces Increases In Hot Spots, Hospitalizations Due To Coronavirus

October 2, 2020

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| Dept Of Health

September 30, 2020

As Minnesota nears its 100,000th confirmed case of COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is cautioning that the worst of the pandemic may not be over.

Earlier today, MDH announced there were 16 deaths reported in the state attributed to COVID-19 – the highest daily total in more than a month.

Patients requiring hospitalization have increased as well, reporting levels that are the highest since early June.

MDH officials have attributed the spike in cases and deaths to formal and informal gatherings among friends, families and co-workers who are not adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing. At least 75 confirmed cases in recent weeks have been linked to a late-August wedding in Lyon County. A total of 39 cases have been linked to a funeral in Martin County.

As of today’s figures, 2,036 Minnesotans have died to illnesses attributed to COVID-19. Of those, 72 percent were

Pa. Health Dept. Announces 988 New Coronavirus Cases, Statewide Total Increases To 157,814

September 29, 2020

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| Dept Of Health

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

HARRISBURG (KDKA) — The Pennsylvania Department of Health is reporting 988 new cases of Coronavirus Tuesday and 16 additional deaths.

The statewide total number of cases has risen to 157,814 since Monday’s report, according to the state’s data.

The Health Department says all 67 counties in Pennsylvania have had cases of COVID-19. Current patients are either in isolation at home or being treated at the hospital.

Allegheny County is reporting 71 new cases today, Centre County is reporting an increase of 103 cases.

The number of tests administered within the last seven days, between Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, is 190,042 with 6,014 positive cases,” according to the Health Department. There were 23,040 test results reported to the department through 10 p.m. on Monday. These results represent the total number of tests administered.

The statewide death toll has risen to 8,123.

There are 1,866,761 patients

Qatar Increases its Contribution to the Global Fund Fivefold – World

September 27, 2020

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| Global Health

**GENEVA **– Qatar and the Global Fund today signed a multi-year contribution agreement for US$50 million for 2020-2022, strengthening their partnership in fighting infectious diseases and in building resilient systems for health.

The contribution made through the Qatar Fund for Development, which was announced during the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment conference last October in Lyon, France, represents a five-fold increase from the US$ 10 million contribution made by Qatar for the previous Replenishment, and comes as the world grapples with an extraordinary global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Mr Khalifa Jassim Al-Kuwari, the Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, and Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund.

“This contribution comes as an extension of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar’s directions to continue the State of Qatar’s commitment towards contributing to

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Tag: increases

D614G mutation in SARS-CoV-2 increases viral fitness and infectivity

The SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) glycoprotein

U.S. COVID-19 Cases Hit Two-Month High, 10 States Report Record Increases | Top News

Henry Ford Health increases minimum wage to $15

Global health care benefit cost increases expected to jump by more than 8% in 2021, Willis Towers Watson survey finds

Global health care benefit cost increases expected to jump by more than 8% in 2021, Willis Towers Watson survey finds | 2020-10-06 | Press Releases

As cold weather arrives, U.S. states see record increases in COVID-19 cases

As Cold Weather Arrives, U.S. States See Record Increases in COVID-19 Cases | Top News

Minnesota Department Of Health Announces Increases In Hot Spots, Hospitalizations Due To Coronavirus

Pa. Health Dept. Announces 988 New Coronavirus Cases, Statewide Total Increases To 157,814

Qatar Increases its Contribution to the Global Fund Fivefold – World