Public Health

The World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization said the interval between doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine can be extended up to 42 days in countries with severe supply constraints, according to interim guidance published Jan. 8

U.S. counties with large universities or colleges holding in-person classes experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases compared to the 21-day period before classes started, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Jan. 8. 

The Washington State Department of Health has partnered with Microsoft to launch a vaccine dashboard next week that will feature data on vaccine ordering and administration broken down by county and demographics, the department said Jan. 6.

The U.S. hit a record COVID-19 death count Jan. 7, with 4,033 deaths reported, according to data from The COVID Tracking Project.

Viruses constantly change through mutation, and the novel coronavirus is no different. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented globally and in the U.S., reports the CDC.

At least 52 cases of a COVID-19 variant first found in the U.K. have been identified in the U.S., the CDC said Jan. 6.

Two cases of the U.K. coronavirus variant have been reported in Connecticut, while one has been confirmed in Texas.

The Austin (Texas) Convention Center will likely be converted to a field hospital as local health officials predict intensive care units will soon reach capacity due to a surge in COVID-19 patients, the Austin American Statesman reported Jan. 6.

People with COVID-19 who don't exhibit symptoms may transmit 59 percent of all virus cases, according to a model developed by CDC researchers and published Jan. 7 in JAMA Network Open. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it apparent that health systems play a big role in community health and need to step up to improve underlying social determinants of health.