upi--2020-07-20--Quest for COVID-19 vaccines: Where they stand

May 29 ( UPI ) -- As the worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise , scientists across the globe are racing to find a vaccine .
It often takes years to secure funding , research and develop a vaccine candidate , test it on humans and get regulatory approval .
And that 's all before pharmaceutical companies can begin the task of actually manufacturing millions of doses for distribution .
A New York Times analysis indicates that under a normal timeline , a COVID-19 vaccine would n't be ready for distribution until May 2036 .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker , and the global economy struggling under mitigation efforts , world leaders are eager to speed up the process .
U.S. President Donald Trump in May announced Operation Warp Speed , an effort to shorten the time frame in which a vaccine goes from concept to distribution .
He 's called for a vaccine to be available for use within about 18 months , a goal some experts warn is too optimistic .
With more than 100 vaccine trials underway , scientists are hoping at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to hit that 18-month goal .
Here are a handful of the more notable research efforts underway : British researchers announced June 16 plans to start Phase II human trials for a potential vaccine .
Three-hundred healthy participants will receive two doses of the vaccine candidate .
The candidate uses synthetic strands of genetic code called RNA .
This genetic material will self-replicate once injected into the test subject , and will instruct the body 's cells to create copies of the virus ' spiky protein .
If the Phase II trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to Phase III involving 6,000 test subjects .
Imperial College London 's research is funded by $ 50 million from the British government .
Moderna said on May 18 that a Phase I trial of its mRNa-1273 possible vaccine indicated a `` potential to prevent '' COVID-19 .
The vaccine succeeded in producing antibodies to attack the virus in all 45 test subjects in quantities `` of the magnitude caused by natural infection . ''
It announced on June 11 that it plans to enter its third and final clinical stage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna is conducting the trial in partnership with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health .
The company said it plans to deliver between 500 million and 1 billion doses per year starting in 2021 in collaboration with drugmaker Lonza .
Moderna 's Phase I results announcements caused stocks to soar after a tumultuous two months in the markets .
On July 15 , Moderna announced the Phase 1 trial saw a `` rapid and strong '' immune response against COVID-19 , and that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' among the 45 study participants .
In late March , Johnson & Johnson said it identified a lead candidate for development for a vaccine and had planned to start human testing in September .
But on June 10 , the company announced the trials would begin earlier , in July .
The company has also identified two backup options .
It plans to use funding from the federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to scale up manufacturing with the goal of producing more than 1 billion doses .
Johnson & Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacture the vaccine .
Pfizer partnered with German company BioNTech in early May to administer a vaccine candidate known as BNT162 on human test subjects .
Tests were carried out at New York University , the University of Maryland and Cincinnati Children 's Hospital as part of a Phase I/II clinical trial .
The initial trial is designed to determine the safety , immunogenicity and optimal dose level of four versions of Pfizer 's vaccine candidate , which uses `` messenger DNA '' to spur the body to produce antibodies that fight the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early trial of the vaccine candidate generated antibodies against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 , the companies reported on July 1 .
The level of antibodies needed to provide immunity will be determined in a larger safety and efficacy trial scheduled to start this month .
They company also said they 're preparing a large-scale rollout that will produce millions of vaccine doses this year and hundreds of millions next year .
The companies said on July 20 that one of four vaccine candidates they are testing , BNT162b1 , produced `` robust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients participating in the study .
This Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate produced in China was the first to be tested in humans -- a study of which found that it appears to be safe and able to generate an immune response against COVID-19 .
It uses a weakened common cold virus , adenovirus , which infects human cells but is incapable of causing disease , to deliver genetic material that codes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the cells .
They then produce the spike protein and allow the immune system to create antibodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , released May 22 , found that low , medium and high doses of the vaccine produced some level of both COVID-19 antibodies and T-cell response .
The vaccine will need to pass through Phase II and Phase III clinical trials in humans with similar positive results before widespread use .
Chinese officials on June 29 approved the vaccine candidate for immediate use by military personnel , though it was unclear how many of the 2.2 million members of China 's military would receive it .
On July 20 , results from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients receiving a higher dose and 91 % given a lower dose had immune responses to the vaccine candidate within 28 days of receiving the shot .
About 70 % of participants in the study reported mild side effects , researchers reported .
Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute have entered Phase I/II human trials for their potential vaccine AZD1222 .
Researchers are enrolling volunteers to test the vaccine , which is made from a weakened version of the adenovirus .
In May , Oxford announced it received more than $ 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Development Authority , a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services .
The British government has also supplied $ 79 million for the AstraZeneca/Oxford collaboration .
AstraZeneca plans at least 400 million doses and has lined up manufacturing capacity for 1 billion doses with first deliveries set for September .
Oxford and AstraZenaca on July 20 announced that their vaccine candidate , also referred to as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 , induced an immune response in 91 percent of study participants within 28 days of receiving a shot .
Chinese biopharmaceutical company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its CoronaVac vaccine candidate in May .
The study is evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the potential vaccine in a larger population .
In preclinical studies in macaque monkeys , the inactivated vaccine proved to be safe and provide immunity .
The company is constructing its own production plant to manufacture up to 100 million doses of the vaccine each year .
Sinovac received $ 15 million on May 22 to accelerate the development of CoronaVac .
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline partnered together in April to create an adjuvanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requires a smaller amount of vaccine protein per dose , allowing more doses to be produced more quickly .
Sanofi paired its S-protein COVID-19 antigen -- based on recombinant DNA technology -- with GSK 's adjuvant technology to create the vaccine candidate .
This vaccine is in the pre-clinical phase , but GSK announced May 28 that it plans to make 1 billion doses of a vaccine adjuvant system through 2021 .
This vaccine candidate , now in pre-clinical studies , is being designed and engineered by International AIDS Vaccine Initiative scientists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It uses the same recombinant viral vectoring , or rVSV , technology as Merck 's successful Ebola Zaire virus vaccine , Ervebo .
Merck is also working on two other vaccines -- one with biotechnology company Themis and another with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics .
U.S. biotechnology company Novavax said Monday it 's entered clinical trials for a potential vaccine called NVX‑CoV2373 .
Researchers began a combined Phase I/II preliminary immunogenicity and safety trial .
Novavax said NVX‑CoV2373 demonstrated `` high immunogenicity and high levels of neutralizing antibodies '' during pre-clinical tests and showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective in fighting COVID‑19 in humans .

The research and testing that goes into creating a new vaccine normally takes years, a process world leaders are hoping can be safely and effectively shortened to 18 months or less. File Photo by John Keith/Wikimedia Commons
May 29 (UPI) -- As the worldwide death toll from the novel coronavirus continues to rise, scientists across the globe have spent the year racing to find a vaccine. It often takes years to secure funding, research and develop a vaccine candidate, test it on humans and get regulatory approval. And that's all before pharmaceutical companies can begin the task of actually manufacturing millions of doses for distribution. Advertisement
A New York Times analysis indicates that under a normal timeline, a COVID-19 vaccine wouldn't be ready for distribution until May 2036.
But with the number of dead growing worldwide, and the global economy struggling under mitigation efforts, world leaders have been eager to speed up the process.
U.S. President Donald Trump in May announced Operation Warp Speed, an effort to shorten the time frame in which a vaccine goes from concept to distribution. He'd called for a vaccine to be available for use within about 18 months, a goal some experts warned was too optimistic.
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More than 100 vaccine trials are ongoing, but scientists have hit that 18-month goal early -- one vaccine, from Moderna, was approved in early December by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is now being distributed.
Here are a handful of the more notable research efforts underway:
BioNTech and Pfizer
Pfizer partnered with German company BioNTech in early May to administer a vaccine candidate known as BNT162 on human test subjects. Tests were carried out at New York University, the University of Maryland and Cincinnati Children's Hospital as part of a Phase I/II clinical trial.
The initial trial is designed to determine the safety, immunogenicity and optimal dose level of four versions of Pfizer's vaccine candidate, which uses "messenger DNA" to spur the body to produce antibodies that fight the coronavirus.
All 24 participants in an early trial of the vaccine candidate generated antibodies against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the companies reported on July 1. The level of antibodies needed to provide immunity will be determined in a larger safety and efficacy trial scheduled to start this month.
They company also said they're preparing a large-scale rollout that will produce millions of vaccine doses this year and hundreds of millions next year.
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The companies said on July 20 that one of four vaccine candidates they are testing, BNT162b1, produced "robust" T cell and antibody responses in patients participating in the study.
On Nov. 9, the two companies announced that a stage 3 trial showed their vaccine can block infection with the coronavirus. Just 10% of the 100 participants who tested positive for COVID-19 had received the vaccine rather than a placebo, the trial results showed.
The companies said an interim analysis of the trial data shows the two-dose vaccine provides protection beginning seven days after the second dose and 28 days after the first dose. They will now seek an emergency use authorization from the FDA once "the required safety milestone is achieved" -- which may happen before the end of November.
Pfizer officially requested an emergency use authorization from the FDA on Nov. 20, which the company said could allow it to start shipping its vaccine to high-risk groups by the middle of December.
The British government on Wednesday became the first Western nation to approve a COVID-19 vaccine, with Pfizer receiving the approval and officials expecting it to become available as soon as next week.
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Pfizer's vaccine was approved by the U.S. government on Dec. 11 and distributed across the country over the weekend, with the first shots given to front-line health workers on Dec. 14.
Moderna and NIAID
Moderna said on May 18 that a Phase I trial of its mRNa-1273 possible vaccine indicated a "potential to prevent" COVID-19. The vaccine succeeded in producing antibodies to attack the virus in all 45 test subjects in quantities "of the magnitude caused by natural infection."
It announced on June 11 that it plans to enter its third and final clinical stage of testing in July using 30,000 participants.
Moderna is conducting the trial in partnership with the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The company said it plans to deliver between 500 million and 1 billion doses per year starting in 2021 in collaboration with drugmaker Lonza.
Moderna's Phase I results announcements caused stocks to soar after a tumultuous two months in the markets.
On July 15, Moderna announced the Phase 1 trial saw a "rapid and strong" immune response against COVID-19, and that the vaccine was "generally safe and well-tolerated" among the 45 study participants.
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Moderna announced on July 27 that it started a 30,000 patient Phase 3 trial for it's vaccine candidate, with the first study participants already having been dosed. The primary endpoint for this trial, titled COVE, is prevention of COVID-19.
An update on data from the Phase I trial on Aug. 25 showed older adults that received the vaccine displayed higher levels of COVID-19 antibodies than patients who had recovered from it.
Moderna on Nov. 16 published an interim analysis of data in its Phase III trail showing its COVID-19 vaccine candidate is 94.5% effective at preventing infection. No serious side effects have been detected in study participants.
The company's CEO said it will pursue an emergency use authorization from the FDA later this month once it has finished compiling safety data on the vaccine.
On Nov. 30, Moderna said it would be applying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for an emergency use authorization after further trial data showed the company's vaccine is 94% effective.
With an expected FDA approval, the vaccine could become available within weeks, officials said.
The FDA on Dec. 15 said in a 45-page report that Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective enough for use. The agency's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meets this week to consider approval of an emergency use authorization for the vaccine.
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Oxford University and AstraZeneca
Oxford Vaccine Group and the Jenner Institute have entered Phase I/II human trials for their potential vaccine AZD1222. Researchers are enrolling volunteers to test the vaccine, which is made from a weakened version of the adenovirus.
In May, Oxford announced it received more than $1 billion from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The British government has also supplied $79 million for the AstraZeneca/Oxford collaboration.
AstraZeneca plans at least 400 million doses and has lined up manufacturing capacity for 1 billion doses with first deliveries set for September.
Oxford and AstraZenaca on July 20 announced that their vaccine candidate, also referred to as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, induced an immune response in 91 percent of study participants within 28 days of receiving a shot.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Aug. 19 announced a deal with AstraZeneca to provide enough doses for every person in Australia to receive one, should the vaccine be approved.
AstraZeneca on Sept. 1 announced it was starting a Phase III trial in the United States, with the goal of enrolling up to 30,000 adults in order to assess safety, efficacy and immunogenicity of AZD1222. The company also has separate late-stage trials ongoing in Britain, Brazil and South Africa, with trials planned for Japan and Russia, which will bring the total number of participants to 50,000, officials said.
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Global trials of the vaccine candidate were paused on Sept. 9 after an unexplained illness in a participant. The company said an independent review of the illness was being conducted, and Matt Hancock, Britain's health secretary, said the concern should not yet be considered a setback.
The company said on Nov. 5 that late-stage trial results are expected for its vaccine before the end of 2020, raising hopes that the vaccine could be available by the end of the year or early 2021.
AstraZeneca on Nov. 23 announced its vaccine has 70% efficacy, based on an interim analysis of clinical trial data. The company said it has tried a number of dosing regimens, including one that reaches 90% efficacy within one month of vaccination.
The company is currently preparing to submit for regulatory approval and emergency approval from the WHO, with a full analysis of the interim trial data also being submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Imperial College and British government
British researchers announced June 16 plans to start Phase II human trials for a potential vaccine. Three-hundred healthy participants will receive two doses of the vaccine candidate.
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The candidate uses synthetic strands of genetic code called RNA. This genetic material will self-replicate once injected into the test subject, and will instruct the body's cells to create copies of the virus' spiky protein.
If the Phase II trial is successful, researchers will be move on to Phase III involving 6,000 test subjects.
Imperial College London's research is funded by $50 million from the British government.
Johnson & Johnson
In late July, Johnson & Johnson said its lead candidate, Ad26.COV2-S, produced a "robust immune response" in monkeys during trials. The trials in animals came simultaneously while the company tested the experimental vaccine in humans in both single and double doses.
The experimental vaccine is vector-based and uses an Ad26 virus to take the coronavirus spike protein gene to human cells. The cells then use the spike gene to replicate the coronavirus proteins and protect themselves from the virus.
The company said it plans to begin Phase III trials in September. It has also identified two backup options.
It plans to use funding from the federal Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to scale up manufacturing with the goal of producing more than 1 billion doses.
Johnson & Johnson plans to collaborate with Emergent BioSolution to manufacture the vaccine.
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The company said on August 5 that it has come to an agreement with the U.S. government to provide 100 million doses of its vaccine after it is approved on a "not-for-profit basis."
CanSino Biologics and China's Institute of Biotechnology
This Ad5-nCoV vaccine candidate produced in China was the first to be tested in humans -- a study of which found that it appears to be safe and able to generate an immune response against COVID-19.
It uses a weakened common cold virus, adenovirus, which infects human cells but is incapable of causing disease, to deliver genetic material that codes for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the cells. They then produce the spike protein and allow the immune system to create antibodies to fight the coronavirus.
A study, released May 22, found that low, medium and high doses of the vaccine produced some level of both COVID-19 antibodies and T-cell response.
The vaccine will need to pass through Phase II and Phase III clinical trials in humans with similar positive results before widespread use.
Chinese officials on June 29 approved the vaccine candidate for immediate use by military personnel, though it was unclear how many of the 2.2 million members of China's military would receive it.
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On July 20, results from a Phase II trial showed 95% of patients receiving a higher dose and 91% given a lower dose had immune responses to the vaccine candidate within 28 days of receiving the shot. About 70% of participants in the study reported mild side effects, researchers reported.
Sinopharm and China National Pharmaceutical Group
Sinopharm on Aug. 18 announced it has started international Phase III trials for it's coronavirus vaccine candidate, and plans to enter the screening and approval phase at an accelerated rate.
Phase I and II trials of the potential vaccine showed it is safe and generated an immune response, according to a paper published earlier in August.
Sinopharm said it expects the vaccine to be approved and publicly available by the end of December.
Sinovac Biotech
Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac Biotech began Phase II clinical trials of its CoronaVac vaccine candidate in May. The study is evaluating the immunogenicity and safety of the potential vaccine in a larger population.
In preclinical studies in macaque monkeys, the inactivated vaccine proved to be safe and provide immunity.
The company is constructing its own production plant to manufacture up to 100 million doses of the vaccine each year.
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Sinovac received $15 million on May 22 to accelerate the development of CoronaVac.
Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline
French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline partnered together in April to create an adjuvanted vaccine, a type of vaccine that requires a smaller amount of vaccine protein per dose, allowing more doses to be produced more quickly.
Sanofi paired its S-protein COVID-19 antigen -- based on recombinant DNA technology -- with GSK's adjuvant technology to create the vaccine candidate.
This vaccine is in the pre-clinical phase, but GSK announced May 28 that it plans to make 1 billion doses of a vaccine adjuvant system through 2021.
Merck and IAVI
This vaccine candidate, now in pre-clinical studies, is being designed and engineered by International AIDS Vaccine Initiative scientists. Merck will manage its regulatory approval process. It uses the same recombinant viral vectoring, or rVSV, technology as Merck's successful Ebola Zaire virus vaccine, Ervebo.
Merck is also working on two other vaccines -- one with biotechnology company Themis and another with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
Novavax
Biotechnology company Novavax announced Aug. 4 that a Phase I clinical trial of a potential vaccine called NVX‑CoV2373 generated favorable immune response results. Researchers began a combined Phase I/II preliminary immunogenicity and safety trial.
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The vaccine candidate produced neutralizing antibodies in the subjects at a higher rate than observed in people who have recovered from COVID-19. Novavax said immune response for those who received an adjuvant was also stronger.
On Aug. 17, the company announced it was starting a Phase II trial for it's vaccine candidate in South Africa, where they will enroll 2,600 participants. The company also said it plans to start a 1,500-participant Phase II trial in the United States and Australia "in the near future."
Novavax on Sept. 3 published results from the Phase I trial of its vaccine candidate showing it is safe and well-tolerated by patients. The vaccine produced immune responses greater than that found in convalescent plasma and induced T cell responses in patients during the randomized, placebo-controlled trial, the company reported.
World moves to reopen amid COVID-19 pandemic


upi--2020-07-20--Florida teachers sue to stop 'reckless and unsafe' school reopening plans

July 20 ( UPI ) -- The Florida teachers union filed a lawsuit Monday asking to delay the start of the school year and to re-evaluate the `` reckless and unsafe reopening '' of public schools for in-person classes .
`` Governor DeSantis needs a reality check , and we are attempting to provide one , '' said Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram at a press conference .
`` The governor needs to accept the reality of the situation here in Florida , where the virus is surging out of control . ''
`` Everyone wants schools to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin in-person teaching , face an explosion of cases and sickness , then be forced to return to distance learning , '' Ingram added .
The suit was filed in state circuit court in Miami against DeSantis , Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran , the Florida Department of Education and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez .
State education chief Corcoran , a former Republican House Speaker , announced on July 6 that state public schools would reopen in August .
He later walked back the order saying he recommended that school districts offer 180 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submit their own plans to reopen based on local conditions , encouraging districts to offer `` complete flexibility '' to parents .
Alberto Carvalho , superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools said it was too early to say whether school would reopen on Aug. 24 for the district 's 350,000 public school students .
In Florida , more than 10,000 confirmed positive cases of coronavirus per day have been reported in the state for 12 days running .
The state has reported a total of 360,400 cases and 10,347 deaths .
The average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day for the past week .
The state has recorded hot spots in Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as Osceola County south of Orlando and in counties around Bay and Escambia counties in the northwest panhandle .
In New Jersey , Gov .
Phil Murphy announced Monday that all children would have the option of attending school via online classes in the fall .
The state 's Department of Education would be releasing guidance this week allowing parents to choose all-remote learning for their children , the governor said .
`` There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to school .
This is about as complex a step as we will take ... and we want to make sure we get it right , '' Murphy said .
New Jersey has seen a drop to fewer than nine confirmed new cases per county per day .
Since the pandemic began , the state has reported a total of 178,937 confirmed cases , with a total of 15,715 deaths , according to the state health department .
In Arizona , where cases are rising , a group of 87 doctors sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking that state schools remain closed and schools teach via online learning for at least the first quarter of the year .
`` Many of us are also parents of school-age children , '' the letter says .
`` The tremendous pressure to return to in-person schooling in August is ill advised and dangerous given the uncontrolled spread of Covid-19 in our community . ''
Students in Phoenix also released a video asking Ducey for a state policy on returning to in-person classes .
An Arizona elementary school teacher died of COVID-19 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra precautions . ''
Two of her fellow teachers also caught the virus .
Ducey had announced that the state was still considering reopening schools on Aug. 17 .
`` I want you to know that Arizona will be opening for learning this school year , '' Ducey said during a press conference Thursday .
The Arizona state health department reported 145,183 confirmed cases as of Monday , with 2,784 deaths .
More than 1,500 new cases were reported on Monday .
In California , Gov .
Gavin Newsom announced revised guidelines for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools must provide meaningful instruction during this pandemic whether they 're physically open or not , '' Newsom said Monday .
`` We all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons , but only if it can be done safely . ''
To open for in-person learning , a school district 's local county health department must be off the state 's COVID-19 watch list for 14 days .
Thirty-three of the state 's 58 counties , housing about 80 % of California 's population , are on the watchlist now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the city reopened too early and is on the brink of a new lockdown .
New California rules for K-12 schools include sending all classmates home if a student in a class is found positive for COVID-19 .
The state 's new rules will mandate that entire districts will close down and teach via remote learning if 25 % of a district 's students or teachers test positive for the virus .
Schools will close down if 5 % of teachers or students test positive .
California reported a record number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases on Monday for a total of 391,538 and nine new deaths for a death toll of 7,694 .

July 20 (UPI) -- The Florida teachers union filed a lawsuit Monday asking to delay the start of the school year and to re-evaluate the "reckless and unsafe reopening" of public schools for in-person classes.
"Governor DeSantis needs a reality check, and we are attempting to provide one," said Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram at a press conference. "The governor needs to accept the reality of the situation here in Florida, where the virus is surging out of control."
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"Everyone wants schools to reopen, but we don't want to begin in-person teaching, face an explosion of cases and sickness, then be forced to return to distance learning," Ingram added.
The suit was filed in state circuit court in Miami against DeSantis, Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the Florida Department of Education and Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez.
State education chief Corcoran, a former Republican House Speaker, announced on July 6 that state public schools would reopen in August. He later walked back the order saying he recommended that school districts offer 180 days of instruction and that schools would submit their own plans to reopen based on local conditions, encouraging districts to offer "complete flexibility" to parents.
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Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools said it was too early to say whether school would reopen on Aug. 24 for the district's 350,000 public school students.
In Florida, more than 10,000 confirmed positive cases of coronavirus per day have been reported in the state for 12 days running. The state has reported a total of 360,400 cases and 10,347 deaths. The average daily rate has been 114 deaths per day for the past week.
The state has recorded hot spots in Miami-Dade and Broward counties as well as Osceola County south of Orlando and in counties around Bay and Escambia counties in the northwest panhandle.
In New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday that all children would have the option of attending school via online classes in the fall. The state's Department of Education would be releasing guidance this week allowing parents to choose all-remote learning for their children, the governor said.
"There are a lot of moving parts with back to school. This is about as complex a step as we will take ... and we want to make sure we get it right," Murphy said.
New Jersey has seen a drop to fewer than nine confirmed new cases per county per day. Since the pandemic began, the state has reported a total of 178,937 confirmed cases, with a total of 15,715 deaths, according to the state health department.
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In Arizona, where cases are rising, a group of 87 doctors sent a letter to Gov. Doug Ducey asking that state schools remain closed and schools teach via online learning for at least the first quarter of the year.
"Many of us are also parents of school-age children," the letter says. "The tremendous pressure to return to in-person schooling in August is ill advised and dangerous given the uncontrolled spread of Covid-19 in our community."
Students in Phoenix also released a video asking Ducey for a state policy on returning to in-person classes. An Arizona elementary school teacher died of COVID-19 in June after teaching summer school with "extra precautions." Two of her fellow teachers also caught the virus.
Ducey had announced that the state was still considering reopening schools on Aug. 17.
"I want you to know that Arizona will be opening for learning this school year," Ducey said during a press conference Thursday.
The Arizona state health department reported 145,183 confirmed cases as of Monday, with 2,784 deaths. More than 1,500 new cases were reported on Monday.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced revised guidelines for schools to open in August.
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"Schools must provide meaningful instruction during this pandemic whether they're physically open or not," Newsom said Monday. "We all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons, but only if it can be done safely."
To open for in-person learning, a school district's local county health department must be off the state's COVID-19 watch list for 14 days. Thirty-three of the state's 58 counties, housing about 80% of California's population, are on the watchlist now.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday that the city reopened too early and is on the brink of a new lockdown.
New California rules for K-12 schools include sending all classmates home if a student in a class is found positive for COVID-19. The state's new rules will mandate that entire districts will close down and teach via remote learning if 25% of a district's students or teachers test positive for the virus. Schools will close down if 5% of teachers or students test positive.
California reported a record number of new hospitalizations Sunday and reported 6,846 new cases on Monday for a total of 391,538 and nine new deaths for a death toll of 7,694.


upi--2020-07-20--Air Force evacuates COVID-19 patient with onboard isolation unit

July 20 ( UPI ) -- The U.S. Air Force announced Monday that it for the first time used a specially-designed isolation chamber to transport a COVID-19 patient from the Indo-Pacific region to the United States for treatment .
It was the first use by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command of the new Transport Isolation System , though it is the 18th use of the system since it 's rollout in April .
The chamber , which can be loaded onto a plane , was used to transport a service member who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus from the Indo-Pacific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The airman 's name or location were not given .
The airlift was conducted by the 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight , using a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 21st Airlift Squadron .
The Transport Isolation System is essentially a container that sits on a specialized pallet and can be loaded onto C-130H , C-130J , and C-17 cargo aircraft , according to the Air Force .
The system features one antechamber module and two isolation modules .
The device includes watertight enclosures and high-efficiency particulate air [ HEPA ] filtration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathogens , as well as sufficient space for medical crew members safely decontaminate and remove personal protective equipment before exiting .
The containers are stackable , and a C-17 can carry two .
Travis Air Base is one of three staging areas useable for the specialized evacuation missions .
Its West Coast location and fleet of 13 C-17s make it an involved entity in repatriating service members with COVID-19 symptoms , officials said .
`` When we say rapid global mobility ... this is how we project American air power , '' said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60th Air Mobility Wing .
`` 'Team Travis ' capabilities and the seamless partnership with multiple organizations across the Air Force enabled us to promptly help those in need throughout the Indo-Pacific region during this challenging , global pandemic , '' Simmons said .

1/3
Travis Air Base, Calif., conducted its first use of a U.S. Air Force Transport Isolation System to deliver a COVID-19 patient from the Indo-Pacific region. Photo by Tech Sgt. Anthony Nelson Jr./U.S. Air Force
July 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force announced Monday that it for the first time used a specially-designed isolation chamber to transport a COVID-19 patient from the Indo-Pacific region to the United States for treatment. It was the first use by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command of the new Transport Isolation System, though it is the 18th use of the system since it's rollout in April. Advertisement
The chamber, which can be loaded onto a plane, was used to transport a service member who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus from the Indo-Pacific region to Travis Air Base, Calif. The airman's name or location were not given.
The airlift was conducted by the 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, using a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the 21st Airlift Squadron.
The Transport Isolation System is essentially a container that sits on a specialized pallet and can be loaded onto C-130H,C-130J, and C-17 cargo aircraft, according to the Air Force.
The system features one antechamber module and two isolation modules.
The device includes watertight enclosures and high-efficiency particulate air [HEPA] filtration systems to contain both airborne and non-airborne pathogens, as well as sufficient space for medical crew members safely decontaminate and remove personal protective equipment before exiting.
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The containers are stackable, and a C-17 can carry two.
Travis Air Base is one of three staging areas useable for the specialized evacuation missions. Its West Coast location and fleet of 13 C-17s make it an involved entity in repatriating service members with COVID-19 symptoms, officials said.
"When we say rapid global mobility ... this is how we project American air power," said Col. Corey Simmons, commander of the 60th Air Mobility Wing.
"'Team Travis' capabilities and the seamless partnership with multiple organizations across the Air Force enabled us to promptly help those in need throughout the Indo-Pacific region during this challenging, global pandemic," Simmons said.


upi--2020-07-20--Watch: Woman rides bike coast to coast after 8 weeks on COVID-19 front lines

July 20 ( UPI ) -- A physician assistant who spent eight weeks on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis in New York City decided to cap off her tenure with a 3,500-mile bike ride from Oregon to New York .
Theresa Mellas , who has worked as a traveling physician assistant for 10 years , said she accepted a 25-day contract to work 12-hour shifts every day at the ICU at a hospital in the North Central Bronx in March , the start of the COVID-19 crisis , and at the end of that time she accepted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to celebrate the end of her second contract with a coast-to-coast bike ride .
`` I needed my own mental decompression and I really impetuously just bought a ticket , a one-way ticket to Portland , Oregon , '' Mellas told WNBC-TV .
`` I did n't even have a bike .
I bought this bike off of Craigslist the day I landed and I started riding East the very next day . ''
Mellas said she made note of some friends she wanted to visit along the way , but she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I had Google maps , and I would look at the roads and kind of just figure it out the night before is essentially what I would do , '' she told WKBW-TV .
Mellas said she only took a total 7 days off from riding during her 40-day trip across the country , which she managed by riding 100-130 miles each day .
She said most of the people who ended up helping her along her journey were complete strangers .
`` I ca n't emphasize that the people that I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me food , they offered me showers , you needed a place to stay .
I 'd knock on people 's doors 'can I sleep next to your cornfield ? '
I met so many incredible people .
People came together , people are rallying .
They 're longing for a connection , '' she said .

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July 20 (UPI) -- A physician assistant who spent eight weeks on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis in New York City decided to cap off her tenure with a 3,500-mile bike ride from Oregon to New York.
Theresa Mellas, who has worked as a traveling physician assistant for 10 years, said she accepted a 25-day contract to work 12-hour shifts every day at the ICU at a hospital in the North Central Bronx in March, the start of the COVID-19 crisis, and at the end of that time she accepted a second 25-day contract.
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Mellas said she decided to celebrate the end of her second contract with a coast-to-coast bike ride.
"I needed my own mental decompression and I really impetuously just bought a ticket, a one-way ticket to Portland, Oregon," Mellas told WNBC-TV. "I didn't even have a bike. I bought this bike off of Craigslist the day I landed and I started riding East the very next day."
Mellas said she made note of some friends she wanted to visit along the way, but she planned her route on the fly.
"I had Google maps, and I would look at the roads and kind of just figure it out the night before is essentially what I would do," she told WKBW-TV.
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Mellas said she only took a total 7 days off from riding during her 40-day trip across the country, which she managed by riding 100-130 miles each day.
She said most of the people who ended up helping her along her journey were complete strangers.
"I can't emphasize that the people that I met, complete strangers, they offered me food, they offered me showers, you needed a place to stay. I'd knock on people's doors 'can I sleep next to your cornfield?' I met so many incredible people. People came together, people are rallying. They're longing for a connection," she said.


upi--2020-07-20--Synthetic marijuana linked to lung damage, comas in study of New York ICU patients

July 20 ( UPI ) -- Smoking or swallowing synthetic marijuana products can lead to serious health consequences , including severe lung damage and death , a study published Monday by JAMA Network Open found .
Eighteen of 30 patients admitted to two New York City hospitals after they used the drugs K2 and Spice , known as `` fake weed , '' over a two-year period developed acute respiratory failure , while 21 required intubation , according to researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center .
In addition , 10 of the patients were in a coma when they arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seizures , the researchers said .
One of the patients , a woman with asthma , died , they said .
`` We want ... to address the inaccurate perception that these substances are safer or similar to marijuana , '' study co-author Ismini Kourouni , now a critical care physician at MetroHealth in Cleveland , told UPI .
`` Synthetic cannabinoids like Spice or K2 are very different from marijuana [ because ] the effects ... are unpredictable and ... the impact on the patients ' health can be tremendous and fatal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her colleagues were prompted to study the effects of these drugs after working as fellows on call in the intensive care units at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke 's hospitals in New York City on what later became known as `` Black Friday . ''
Over the course of one weekend in 2016 , the hospitals treated 12 critically ill patients , many of whom were homeless and most of whom left against medical advice within 48 to 72 hours , Kourouni said .
K2 packets were found in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the paramedics or bystanders who brought them in for evaluation , she said .
Synthetic marijuana is illegal in most states , but it is still sold online and in many stores across the country , particularly in low-income areas , according to Kourouni .
It 's appealing , particularly to young people and the homeless , because it is inexpensive , she said .
Of the 30 patients included in their study , 24 were male , the researchers said .
The patients ranged in age from 21 to 59 , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the patients arrived at the ICU in `` extreme agitation '' and two required high doses of sedatives to `` prevent self-harm , '' according to the researchers .
In addition , 12 had excess carbon dioxide in their blood , the researchers said .
`` Synthetic cannabinoids are not a safer or cheaper alternative to marijuana , and we strongly advise against any experimentation with these substances , '' Kourouni said .

Synthetic marijuana products like Spice can cause lung damage and comas, according to a new study. Photo by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency
July 20 (UPI) -- Smoking or swallowing synthetic marijuana products can lead to serious health consequences, including severe lung damage and death, a study published Monday by JAMA Network Open found. Eighteen of 30 patients admitted to two New York City hospitals after they used the drugs K2 and Spice, known as "fake weed," over a two-year period developed acute respiratory failure, while 21 required intubation, according to researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Advertisement
In addition, 10 of the patients were in a coma when they arrived at the hospital, and six suffered seizures, the researchers said.
One of the patients, a woman with asthma, died, they said.
"We want ... to address the inaccurate perception that these substances are safer or similar to marijuana," study co-author Ismini Kourouni, now a critical care physician at MetroHealth in Cleveland, told UPI.
"Synthetic cannabinoids like Spice or K2 are very different from marijuana [because] the effects ... are unpredictable and ... the impact on the patients' health can be tremendous and fatal," she said.
Kourouni and her colleagues were prompted to study the effects of these drugs after working as fellows on call in the intensive care units at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke's hospitals in New York City on what later became known as "Black Friday."
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Over the course of one weekend in 2015, the hospitals treated 12 critically ill patients, many of whom were homeless and most of whom left against medical advice within 48 to 72 hours, Kourouni said.
K2 packets were found in the patients' clothes or were reported by the paramedics or bystanders who brought them in for evaluation, she said.
Synthetic marijuana is illegal in most states, but it is still sold online and in many stores across the country, particularly in low-income areas, according to Kourouni.
It's appealing, particularly to young people and the homeless, because it is inexpensive, she said.
Of the 30 patients included in their study, 24 were male, the researchers said. The patients ranged in age from 21 to 59, they said.
In all, 10 of the patients arrived at the ICU in "extreme agitation" and two required high doses of sedatives to "prevent self-harm," according to the researchers.
In addition, 12 had excess carbon dioxide in their blood, the researchers said.
"Synthetic cannabinoids are not a safer or cheaper alternative to marijuana, and we strongly advise against any experimentation with these substances," Kourouni said.


upi--2020-07-20--Wealthier in U.S. have larger carbon footprints, household energy use survey shows

July 20 ( UPI ) -- Wealthy homeowners contribute more to global warming than Americans in lower-income neighborhoods , according to a new survey of household energy use .
The first of its kind study -- published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- looked at energy use by 93 million American homes , revealing the ways energy use drives greenhouse gas emissions in different neighborhoods and across varying parts of the country .
`` One of the motivations for our study was to try to get a handle on the specifics and drivers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States , '' senior study author Joshua Newell told UPI .
`` The more digging we did , the more we realized no one had used big data and big data analysis to understand the drivers and variables involved household energy use , '' said Newell , an associate professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability .
Newell and his research partners used a database of standardized tax assessor records to estimate building-level energy use and decipher the influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household income and building attributes on a building 's `` greenhouse gas intensity , '' calculated as emissions per square meter of residential floor space .
Their statistical analysis showed a that greenhouse gas intensity is lowest in the West and highest in central areas of the United States .
The research also showed that even in places with relatively green and efficient electrical grids , affluence can have a sizable influence on greenhouse gas intensity .
`` As we got deeper into our research , and as we did more detailed analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boston , the effects of affluence on greenhouse gas emissions began to stand out , '' Newell said .
`` You have such disparity , for example , between South Central L.A. and Beverley Hills , where you can really see the role of affluence on the size of carbon footprints . ''
According to Newell , it 's the lack of density and the size of the houses in affluent neighborhoods that are driving disparities in greenhouse gas intensity .
Newell and his colleagues hope their findings will guide policy makers as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and slow climate change .
The new analysis showed that if the U.S. electrical grid is decarbonized , with fossil fuels entirely eliminated , the residential housing sector can reduce greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2025 , one of the targets set by the Paris Agreement .
The data showed , however , that a lot more must happen for the housing sector to meet the 80 percent emissions reduction target for 2050 , researchers said .
`` There is also a lot that can be done in terms of home energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficient windows , which can be incentivized by policy makers and local governments , '' Newell said .
`` One thing is that we need to encourage density wherever we can , '' Newell said .
`` Cities have gotten a bad rap during the COVID pandemic , but they are really highly efficient in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas intensity . ''
By highlighting the influence of affluence on greenhouse gas emissions , Newell said the research asks the question : `` What responsibility do wealthier households have for combating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the necessary energy efficiency reforms and retrofits ? ''
The work of Newell and his research partners at Michigan , Dimitrios Gounaridis and lead study author Benjamin Goldstein , suggests technology improvements , alone , wo n't be sufficient to stave off catastrophic climate change .
To stop climate change , serious lifestyle changes are likely necessary .
`` I 'm of the firm belief that green tech and technology can get us part of the way , but I think we all need to look in the mirror and think about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` That 's why part of our study looked at a size of homes and emphasized the important of density , to get people to ask the question : do we really need this big of a home ? ''

Despite the bad rap they have, researchers say cities are more efficient than suburbs in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Pictured, traffic heads into downtown Chicago on Lake Shore Drive in 2007. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI | License Photo
July 20 (UPI) -- Wealthy homeowners contribute more to global warming than Americans in lower-income neighborhoods, according to a new survey of household energy use. The first of its kind study -- published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences -- looked at energy use by 93 million American homes, revealing the ways energy use drives greenhouse gas emissions in different neighborhoods and across varying parts of the country. Advertisement
"One of the motivations for our study was to try to get a handle on the specifics and drivers of household energy use, which is about 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States," senior study author Joshua Newell told UPI.
"The more digging we did, the more we realized no one had used big data and big data analysis to understand the drivers and variables involved household energy use," said Newell, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.
Advertisement
Newell and his research partners used a database of standardized tax assessor records to estimate building-level energy use and decipher the influence of climate, the electrical grid, household income and building attributes on a building's "greenhouse gas intensity," calculated as emissions per square meter of residential floor space.
Their statistical analysis showed a that greenhouse gas intensity is lowest in the West and highest in central areas of the United States.
The research also showed that even in places with relatively green and efficient electrical grids, affluence can have a sizable influence on greenhouse gas intensity.
"As we got deeper into our research, and as we did more detailed analysis of energy use in Los Angeles and Boston, the effects of affluence on greenhouse gas emissions began to stand out," Newell said. "You have such disparity, for example, between South Central L.A. and Beverley Hills, where you can really see the role of affluence on the size of carbon footprints."
According to Newell, it's the lack of density and the size of the houses in affluent neighborhoods that are driving disparities in greenhouse gas intensity.
Newell and his colleagues hope their findings will guide policy makers as they work to curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change.
Advertisement
The new analysis showed that if the U.S. electrical grid is decarbonized, with fossil fuels entirely eliminated, the residential housing sector can reduce greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent by 2025, one of the targets set by the Paris Agreement.
The data showed, however, that a lot more must happen for the housing sector to meet the 80 percent emissions reduction target for 2050, researchers said.
"There is also a lot that can be done in terms of home energy retrofits and improvements to insulation and more efficient windows, which can be incentivized by policy makers and local governments," Newell said.
"One thing is that we need to encourage density wherever we can," Newell said. "Cities have gotten a bad rap during the COVID pandemic, but they are really highly efficient in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas intensity."
By highlighting the influence of affluence on greenhouse gas emissions, Newell said the research asks the question: "What responsibility do wealthier households have for combating climate change, and for paying some of the necessary energy efficiency reforms and retrofits?"
The work of Newell and his research partners at Michigan, Dimitrios Gounaridis and lead study author Benjamin Goldstein, suggests technology improvements, alone, won't be sufficient to stave off catastrophic climate change.
Advertisement
To stop climate change, serious lifestyle changes are likely necessary.
"I'm of the firm belief that green tech and technology can get us part of the way, but I think we all need to look in the mirror and think about our own consumption patterns," Newell said.
"That's why part of our study looked at a size of homes and emphasized the important of density, to get people to ask the question: do we really need this big of a home?"


upi--2020-07-20--About 28% of Southwest employees opt for buyouts or extended leave

July 20 ( UPI ) -- Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told employees Monday that about 28 % of the workforce opted for extended leaves of absence or buyouts amid furlough threat .
About 4,400 employees agreed to the buyouts and nearly 12,500 agreed to partially paid extended leave , representing about 17,000 employees , or 28 % of the workforce , Kelly told CNBC .
Southwest offered what it called `` the most generous buyout package in our history '' to avoid layoffs and furloughs in the fall , Dallas Morning News had reported last month .
Along with other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reduce costs before the Sept. 30 end to obligations under the Payroll Support Program in the CARES Act to not make any layoffs in exchange for government aid .
According to the Transportation Security Administration , the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the air carriers hard with traffic down 80 % year-over-year since March and down by up to 96 % in April .
Over Fourth of July weekend , air travel was still down 70 percent year-over-year , TSA figures show .
The Dallas-based Southwest Airlines buyout package offered employees who worked more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retire early a year 's pay along with company paid health insurance for a year , and four years of flight privileges , according to the Dallas Morning News report .
It also offered pilots about two-thirds of their average salary for five years or until they hit 65 .
The extended leave plan for up to 18 months would give employees 50 percent pay along with health and flight benefits .
For pilots , this same extended time off plan would offer them about 60 percent of their regular pay .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the response to these programs , '' Kelly told the Southwest team .
`` I 'm incredibly grateful to those of you who answered the call .
I know there are stories behind every one of those 16,895 decisions . ''
Other airlines have also offered early retirement packages amid declining business due to the pandemic .
Sunday was the deadline for pilots at Delta Air Lines to sign up for early retirement packages and more than 2,000 pilots did so , according to the pilots ' union .
`` The voluntary early-out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is positive , '' Air Line Pilots Association spokesman and Delta pilot Christopher Riggins said .
Earlier this month United Airlines and its pilots union agreed to voluntary furlough and early retirement plans to cut costs , as the U.S. carrier expected widespread cuts after Sept. 30 .
Other airlines have found other ways to cope with the sharp decline in travel demand amid the pandemic .
Last Thursday rival airlines American , JetBlue , agreed to temporarily share passengers on certain domestic and international flights .
On Friday , British Airways retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , otherwise set to retire in 2024 , because of damage to the travel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic .

Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said Monday 28% of the workforce has agreed to sign up for early retirement buyouts or extended leaves of absence. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo
July 20 (UPI) -- Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told employees Monday that about 28% of the workforce opted for extended leaves of absence or buyouts amid furlough threat. About 4,400 employees agreed to the buyouts and nearly 12,500 agreed to partially paid extended leave, representing about 17,000 employees, or 28% of the workforce, Kelly told CNBC. Advertisement
Southwest offered what it called "the most generous buyout package in our history" to avoid layoffs and furloughs in the fall, Dallas Morning News had reported last month.
Along with other airlines, Southwest has been trying to reduce costs before the Sept. 30 end to obligations under the Payroll Support Program in the CARES Act to not make any layoffs in exchange for government aid.
According to the Transportation Security Administration, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the air carriers hard with traffic down 80% year-over-year since March and down by up to 96% in April. Over Fourth of July weekend, air travel was still down 70 percent year-over-year, TSA figures show.
The Dallas-based Southwest Airlines buyout package offered employees who worked more than a decade at the company and retire early a year's pay along with company paid health insurance for a year, and four years of flight privileges, according to the Dallas Morning News report. It also offered pilots about two-thirds of their average salary for five years or until they hit 65. The extended leave plan for up to 18 months would give employees 50 percent pay along with health and flight benefits. For pilots, this same extended time off plan would offer them about 60 percent of their regular pay.
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"Overall, I'm very pleased with the response to these programs," Kelly told the Southwest team. "I'm incredibly grateful to those of you who answered the call. I know there are stories behind every one of those 16,895 decisions."
Other airlines have also offered early retirement packages amid declining business due to the pandemic.
Sunday was the deadline for pilots at Delta Air Lines to sign up for early retirement packages and more than 2,000 pilots did so, according to the pilots' union.
"The voluntary early-out program participation exceeded our expectations, which is positive," Air Line Pilots Association spokesman and Delta pilot Christopher Riggins said.
Earlier this month United Airlines and its pilots union agreed to voluntary furlough and early retirement plans to cut costs, as the U.S. carrier expected widespread cuts after Sept. 30.
Other airlines have found other ways to cope with the sharp decline in travel demand amid the pandemic.
Last Thursday rival airlines American, JetBlue, agreed to temporarily share passengers on certain domestic and international flights.
On Friday, British Airways retired its whole fleet of Boeing 747 airliners, otherwise set to retire in 2024, because of damage to the travel industry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


upi--2020-07-20--New York City enters final reopening stage; L.A. on 'brink' of new lockdown

July 20 ( UPI ) -- New York City , which was at one time the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States , entered the fourth and final phase of the state 's reopening plan on Monday .
The city entering the last stage means low-risk outdoor facilities , like zoos and botanical gardens , can open at 33 % capacity .
The rest of New York state has already begun the fourth phase of Gov .
Andrew Cuomo 's reopening plan .
The United States has had 3.8 million coronavirus cases and 140,811 deaths since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ updated figures Monday from Johns Hopkins University .
The Bahamas , which reopened to visitors early this month , said it will close its borders to U.S. travelers beginning Wednesday .
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced the restriction Sunday and said it 's the result of rising U.S. cases , particularly in nearby Florida .
There have been more than 350,000 cases to date in Florida , which is now the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak .
The state reported about 12,500 new cases Sunday and 10,347 new cases Monday .
Officials said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among 115,000 tests , but hospital capacity remained limited .
Florida 's five-day total of admissions was 1,637 Sunday , and 49 hospitals said they had no more space in intensive care units .
`` The residents here are terrified and I 'm terrified , for the first time in my career because there 's a lack of leadership , '' Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala , who represents part of Miami-Dade County , told ABC This Week on Sunday .
`` It 's terrible .
We have community spread , which means the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In California , Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acknowledged Sunday that the city reopened too soon and said it 's on the verge of closing again with a new stay-home order .
`` We 're on the brink of that , '' he said .
California reported a record number of new hospitalizations Sunday and reported 6,846 new cases on Monday for a total of 391,538 and nine new deaths for a death toll of 7,694 .
`` It 's not just what 's opened and closed , it 's also about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN .
`` It 's about the people who are getting together outside of their households , with people they might know . ''
In Kentucky , health officials reported a record daily high for new cases , with 979 .
`` We are at war , and we are in the trenches , '' Gov .
Andy Beshear said .
`` I have faith and I have trust in the people of Kentucky .
But today and in the days ahead we 've got to do a whole lot better . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Edwards urged residents to comply with distancing recommendations .
`` COVID-19 is more rampant in Louisiana now than it has ever been , '' he tweeted .
`` We now have a statewide epidemic , it is no longer one or two regions driving case growth .
It 's on all of us to do better . ''
Arkansas Gov .
Asa Hutchinson said the statewide mask mandate would take effect , requiring every adult in Arkansas to wear a mask or other face covering that covers their nose and mouth while indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people outside of their household and maintaining a six-foot distance is not possible .
The order also requires face coverings in all outdoor settings where people are exposed to others from outside their household and distancing is not possible .

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The Statue of Liberty reopened Monday with reduced capacity to help maintain social distancing due to the coronavirus. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
July 20 (UPI) -- New York City, which was at one time the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, entered the fourth and final phase of the state's reopening plan on Monday. The city entering the last stage means low-risk outdoor facilities, like zoos and botanical gardens, can open at 33% capacity. The rest of New York state has already begun the fourth phase of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's reopening plan. Advertisement
The United States has had 3.8 million coronavirus cases and 140,957 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to updated figures Monday from Johns Hopkins University.
The Bahamas, which reopened to visitors early this month, said it will close its borders to U.S. travelers beginning Wednesday.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis announced the restriction Sunday and said it's the result of rising U.S. cases, particularly in nearby Florida.
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There have been more than 350,000 cases to date in Florida, which is now the U.S. epicenter of the outbreak. The state reported about 12,500 new cases Sunday and 10,347 new cases Monday.
Officials said the positive rate fell below 12% among 115,000 tests, but hospital capacity remained limited. Florida's five-day total of admissions was 1,637 Sunday, and 49 hospitals said they had no more space in intensive care units.
"The residents here are terrified and I'm terrified, for the first time in my career because there's a lack of leadership," Democratic Rep. Donna Shalala, who represents part of Miami-Dade County, told ABC This Week on Sunday. "It's terrible. We have community spread, which means the virus is out of control."
In California, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acknowledged Sunday that the city reopened too soon and said it's on the verge of closing again with a new stay-home order.
"We're on the brink of that," he said.
California reported a record number of new hospitalizations Sunday and reported 6,846 new cases on Monday for a total of 391,538 and nine new deaths for a death toll of 7,694.
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"It's not just what's opened and closed, it's also about what we do individually," he told CNN. "It's about the people who are getting together outside of their households, with people they might know."
In Texas -- which has fast grown to be the fourth-most infected state with exponentially spiking daily cases since about mid-June -- the emergency management director for Hidalgo County along the border with Mexico ordered all residents to shelter in place starting Wednesday amid climbing infections.
The county tallied 524 new cases and 34 deaths increasing its totals to nearly 12,800 infections and 318 deaths.
County Judge Richard F. Cortez signed the county order Monday ordering a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew also be in place with exceptions for those experiencing a medical emergency or provide an essential service.
"It is nightly encouraged and recommended that all commercial businesses operating within Hidalgo County, except essential covered businesses, should cease all activities at facilities that may not be provided by curbside, drive-through or take-out services," Cortez said in the order.
In Kentucky, health officials reported a record daily high for new cases, with 979.
"We are at war, and we are in the trenches," Gov. Andy Beshear said. "I have faith and I have trust in the people of Kentucky. But today and in the days ahead we've got to do a whole lot better."
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In Louisiana, Gov. John Bel Edwards urged residents to comply with distancing recommendations.
"COVID-19 is more rampant in Louisiana now than it has ever been," he tweeted. "We now have a statewide epidemic, it is no longer one or two regions driving case growth. It's on all of us to do better."
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the statewide mask mandate would take effect, requiring every adult in Arkansas to wear a mask or other face covering that covers their nose and mouth while indoors in areas where they are exposed to people outside of their household and maintaining a six-foot distance is not possible.
The order also requires face coverings in all outdoor settings where people are exposed to others from outside their household and distancing is not possible.
In Kansas, Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order mandating that all students, faculty and staff wear a face covering when schools reopen while announcing plans to pushback the start of the academic calendar.
In a statement, the Democratic governor said the mandate will be in place for all those who enter a public or private kindergarten through grade 12 school building or facility.
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Exceptions will be in place for when eating, activities that cannot be done safely while wearing a mask, children who are not students and under five years of age, people who are deaf and hard of hearing or those who are communicating with such a person and those with a medical condition, mental health condition or disability that prevents them from wearing a mask, the statement said.
The order will also mandate social distancing of at least six feet except for in-person instruction in classrooms where masks are to be worn. Hand sanitizer is also required under the order in all classrooms and that students and faculty must sanitize their hands at least once an hour.
The second executive order delays schools from offering students instruction until Sept. 8 but the order will only be signed into being if the Kansas Board of Education votes in approval.
"The additional three weeks will provide schools time to work with their counties to get the necessary mitigation supplies like masks, thermometers and hand sanitizer while providing local districts time to thoroughly review the curriculum options from the State Board of Education to figure out what strategy is best for their district," Kelly said. "Putting nearly half a million kinds and faculty in daily, large gatherings is the exact opposite of what health experts have urged us to do."


upi--2020-07-20--Living will use in U.S. up sharply since start of pandemic, study shows

July 20 ( UPI ) -- The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has led to a five-fold increase in the number of Americans who look to complete advance healthcare directives online , according to a study published Monday by JAMA Network Open .
The findings are based on analysis of traffic on the website OurCareWishes.org , which offers users free guidance on creating a `` living will . ''
A living will is a legal document that outlines healthcare preferences in the event of an emergency .
In a typical month , from January 2019 through February of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 new users , they said .
However , in March and April , as the coronavirus began to take hold in the United States , the site saw up to 207 new users monthly , the analysis revealed .
`` The reality of COVID-19 is an unprecedented number of deaths , striking rates of critical illness and , as we are continuing to learn , persistent symptoms and morbidity in survivors , '' study co-author Dr. Catherine Auriemma , a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellow at the Hospital of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Thoughtful consideration of these facts would strike discomfort and , perhaps , reflection on one 's own mortality , in just about anyone -- add to that strict visitation rights , and it 's very understandable that people would want to get their wishes in writing , '' Auriemma said .
As of Monday , nearly 3.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly 141,000 have died from the virus , according to figures from Johns Hopkins University .
An advance directive or living will is a legal document in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any -- should be used if they are incapacitated or no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness , Auriemma and her colleagues said .
A 2017 analysis found that fewer than one-third of American adults had completed one of these forms , they said .
OurCareWishes.org had 482 new users in February , March and April of this year , compared to 424 from January 2019 to January 2020 , the researchers said .
Completion rates increased for five of the site 's nine optional modules after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they said .
Thirty-eight percent of site users completed the `` important end-of-life priorities '' section during the pandemic months , compared to 24 % in 2019 , according to the researchers .
In addition , 23 % set out their `` wishes for [ their ] final days '' during the pandemic months , versus 13 % in 2019 , they said .
`` Our study shows that if you provide patients a free , easily accessible platform through which they can independently complete an advance directive they will do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't think of a global pandemic providing that motivation as being the positive outcome , but rather that we 've finally established a way for patients to access these resources with fewer barriers . ''

A website that provides living will services saw more traffic in the first four months of 2020 than in all of 2019, according to a study. Photo by Free-Photos /Pixabay
July 20 (UPI) -- The COVID-19 pandemic in the United States has led to a five-fold increase in the number of Americans who look to complete advance healthcare directives online, according to a study published Monday by JAMA Network Open. The findings are based on analysis of traffic on the website OurCareWishes.org, which offers users free guidance on creating a "living will." A living will is a legal document that outlines healthcare preferences in the event of an emergency. Advertisement
In a typical month, from January 2019 through February of this year, the site attracted between 22 to 30 new users, they said.
However, in March and April, as the coronavirus began to take hold in the United States, the site saw up to 207 new users monthly, the analysis revealed.
"The reality of COVID-19 is an unprecedented number of deaths, striking rates of critical illness and, as we are continuing to learn, persistent symptoms and morbidity in survivors," study co-author Dr. Catherine Auriemma, a pulmonary and critical care medicine fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, told UPI.
"Thoughtful consideration of these facts would strike discomfort and, perhaps, reflection on one's own mortality, in just about anyone -- add to that strict visitation rights, and it's very understandable that people would want to get their wishes in writing," Auriemma said.
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As of Monday, nearly 3.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly 141,000 have died from the virus, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
An advance directive or living will is a legal document in which people specify what medical treatments -- if any -- should be used if they are incapacitated or no longer able to make decisions for themselves because of illness, Auriemma and her colleagues said.
A 2017 analysis found that fewer than one-third of American adults had completed one of these forms, they said.
OurCareWishes.org had 482 new users in February, March and April of this year, compared to 424 from January 2019 to January 2020, the researchers said.
Completion rates increased for five of the site's nine optional modules after the COVID-19 outbreak started in the United States, they said.
Thirty-eight percent of site users completed the "important end-of-life priorities" section during the pandemic months, compared to 24% in 2019, according to the researchers.
In addition, 23% set out their "wishes for [their] final days" during the pandemic months, versus 13% in 2019, they said.
"Our study shows that if you provide patients a free, easily accessible platform through which they can independently complete an advance directive they will do so," Auriemma said.
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"I don't think of a global pandemic providing that motivation as being the positive outcome, but rather that we've finally established a way for patients to access these resources with fewer barriers."


upi--2020-07-20--British defense ministry, Airbus finalize $628.5M contract for Skynet upgrade

July 20 ( UPI ) -- Britain 's Ministry of Defense finalized a contract for a new Skynet military satellite in a $ 628.5 million deal with Airbus Defense and Space .
The contract , signed on Sunday , calls for launch and ground support of the latest Skynet 6A telecommunications satellite , which is regarded as an improvement of military communications capability -- and is an update to the current Skynet 5 system , Airbus said in a press release .
A new generation of communications spacecraft , a $ 7.5 billion upgrade , is expected at the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
The deal has been in the works since 2017 , when Airbus was chosen as a preferred supplier and received a preliminary contract for the new system .
The satellite will be developed and assembled in Britain , with a planned launch date of 2025 .
Skynet is a family of military communications satellites used by the British Armed Forces and NATO forces engaged in coalition missions .
The contract supplements a constellation of existing Airbus-built spacecraft known as the Skynet 5 space telecommunications network .
The eventual successor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until at least 2040 , British defense officials said .
The `` newest contested frontier is space and so we need to provide resilience and better communications for our forces , '' said British Defense Minister Ben Wallace .
`` Skynet 6A is one of many solutions we shall be investing in over the next decade .
This government recognizes the urgent need to defend and promote space capabilities .
British defense must continue to innovate and transform , particularly in cyber and space , '' Wallace said .

Airbus Defense and Space and the British Ministry of Defense finalized a $628.5 million contract for a Skynet 6A military communications satellite on Sunday. Photo courtesy of Airbus Defense and Space
July 20 (UPI) -- Britain's Ministry of Defense finalized a contract for a new Skynet military satellite in a $628.5 million deal with Airbus Defense and Space. The contract, signed on Sunday, calls for launch and ground support of the latest Skynet 6A telecommunications satellite, which is regarded as an improvement of military communications capability -- and is an update to the current Skynet 5 system, Airbus said in a press release. Advertisement
A new generation of communications spacecraft, a $7.5 billion upgrade, is expected at the end of the decade, the Ministry said in a statement.
The deal has been in the works since 2017, when Airbus was chosen as a preferred supplier and received a preliminary contract for the new system. The satellite will be developed and assembled in Britain, with a planned launch date of 2025.
Skynet is a family of military communications satellites used by the British Armed Forces and NATO forces engaged in coalition missions. The contract supplements a constellation of existing Airbus-built spacecraft known as the Skynet 5 space telecommunications network.
The eventual successor to the system is expected to serve until at least 2040, British defense officials said.
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The "newest contested frontier is space and so we need to provide resilience and better communications for our forces," said British Defense Minister Ben Wallace.
"Skynet 6A is one of many solutions we shall be investing in over the next decade. This government recognizes the urgent need to defend and promote space capabilities. British defense must continue to innovate and transform, particularly in cyber and space," Wallace said.


upi--2020-07-20--MIT using Nixon 'moon disaster' video to educate about 'deepfakes'

July 20 ( UPI ) -- Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched a website that uses a video of Richard Nixon giving a speech he never delivered to educate the public about the challenges posed by such `` deepfakes . ''
The researchers at MIT 's Center for Advanced Virtuality said they spent a year and a half creating the video of President Nixon delivering the real contingency speech that was written in 1969 to be delivered in the event of a disaster during the Apollo 11 moon landing mission .
The `` In The Event of Moon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` complete deepfake , '' meaning the creators manipulated both video and audio to create the illusion that Nixon had actually delivered the speech on camera .
The Nixon video now forms the centerpiece of the Center for Advanced Virtuality 's website , moondisaster.org , which aims to educate the public about the existence of technology that can create realistic videos of fictional scenarios .
`` Media misinformation is a longstanding phenomenon , but , exacerbated by deepfake technologies and the ease of disseminating content online , it 's become a crucial issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fox Harrell , professor of digital media and of artificial intelligence at MIT and director of the MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality .
Francesca Panetta , the team 's creative director , said the aim is to educate the public about deepfakes and encourage media consumers to more carefully consider the legitimacy of what they see and hear .
`` This alternative history shows how new technologies can obfuscate the truth around us , encouraging our audience to think carefully about the media they encounter daily , '' Panetta said .

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July 20 (UPI) -- Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology launched a website that uses a video of Richard Nixon giving a speech he never delivered to educate the public about the challenges posed by such "deepfakes."
The researchers at MIT's Center for Advanced Virtuality said they spent a year and a half creating the video of President Nixon delivering the real contingency speech that was written in 1969 to be delivered in the event of a disaster during the Apollo 11 moon landing mission.
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The "In The Event of Moon Disaster" video is known as a "complete deepfake," meaning the creators manipulated both video and audio to create the illusion that Nixon had actually delivered the speech on camera.
The Nixon video now forms the centerpiece of the Center for Advanced Virtuality's website, moondisaster.org, which aims to educate the public about the existence of technology that can create realistic videos of fictional scenarios.
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"Media misinformation is a longstanding phenomenon, but, exacerbated by deepfake technologies and the ease of disseminating content online, it's become a crucial issue of our time," said D. Fox Harrell, professor of digital media and of artificial intelligence at MIT and director of the MIT Center for Advanced Virtuality.
Francesca Panetta, the team's creative director, said the aim is to educate the public about deepfakes and encourage media consumers to more carefully consider the legitimacy of what they see and hear.
"This alternative history shows how new technologies can obfuscate the truth around us, encouraging our audience to think carefully about the media they encounter daily," Panetta said.


upi--2020-07-20--Less stringent fasting diets may still be effective, study shows

Limiting food to a narrow window of time each day may help people shed some extra pounds , a small study finds .
And restricting your eating to six hours may work as well as a stricter four-hour time frame , researchers found .
In an eight-week trial , researchers found that either of two `` time-restricted '' diets helped obese people drop some pounds -- about 3 % of their starting body weight , on average .
But while the diets have become trendy of late , they seemed to work the old-fashioned way : by cutting dieters ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a form of intermittent fasting , explained Krista Varady , one of the researchers on the study .
The principle is simple : People limit themselves to eating between certain hours of the day , and then fast -- with the exception of water and calorie-free drinks -- for the remaining time .
The weight-loss tactic has become popular -- largely because it 's easy to follow , said Varady , a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago .
There 's no calorie-counting , she explained , and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You just have to watch the clock , '' Varady said .
`` People seem to like it much more than other diets . ''
The problem is , there has not been much scientific proof that time-restricted eating works .
Animal research has suggested intermittent fasting , in general , can have a broad range of effects -- from reducing markers of inflammation in the body , to changing the makeup of gut bacteria , to spurring weight loss .
But , Varady pointed out , lab mice are not humans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergo are not really reflective of what people experience on a time-restricted diet .
For the new study , Varady and her colleagues tested two eating plans .
In one , people ate between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and fasted the rest of the day .
The other diet allowed a wider time window for eating , from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Those hours were chosen for a practical reason , Varady said : `` People like to eat dinner with their families . ''
The researchers randomly assigned 58 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diets , or stick with their usual diet and exercise routine .
Over eight weeks , both diet groups lost about 3 % of their body weight , on average , while the comparison group held steady .
The shorter four-hour window was no more effective than the longer one .
Overall , the diet groups showed no changes in inflammatory markers in their blood .
But they did slash calories from their usual daily intake -- around 550 a day , in both groups .
Varady said she thinks that fully accounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just cut calories from your diet in the traditional way ?
`` People get sick of counting calories , '' Varady said .
`` This makes it simpler . ''
That 's not to say time-restricted eating is a piece of cake .
In the first week or two , people tend to get headaches , dizziness and nausea -- and some give up , according to Varady .
But , she said , once the body adjusts to the new eating schedule , those symptoms go away .
Like all diets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone , Varady said .
People who are on medications that need to be taken with food , for example , may not be able to restrict their eating schedule .
And people who exercise in the morning might have a hard time forgoing food till the afternoon , so a change in routine might be necessary .
It 's also unclear how well the current findings might generalize , said Dr. Emily Gallagher , an assistant professor of medicine , endocrinology , diabetes and bone disease at Mount Sinai 's Icahn School @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She was n't part of the research .
The study group was mostly women in their 40s , Gallagher said , so the results might differ for men or women of different ages , for example .
Another big question , she said , is whether people can stick with the diet in the `` real world , '' and maintain any initial weight loss .
Varady said the eating plan can not just be a quick fix , where people lose weight , then go back to their old ways .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it 's probably unwise to eat junk food for four hours each day .
`` Diet quality does matter to your health , '' Varady said .
`` It 's still important to eat fewer processed foods and get more fruits and vegetables . ''
The findings are published online July 15 in Cell Metabolism .
Harvard Medical School has more on intermittent fasting .

Fasting diets that restrict eating to six hours may work as well as a stricter four-hour time frame, researchers found. Photo courtesy of pxhere
Limiting food to a narrow window of time each day may help people shed some extra pounds, a small study finds. And restricting your eating to six hours may work as well as a stricter four-hour time frame, researchers found. Advertisement
In an eight-week trial, researchers found that either of two "time-restricted" diets helped obese people drop some pounds -- about 3% of their starting body weight, on average. But while the diets have become trendy of late, they seemed to work the old-fashioned way: by cutting dieters' daily calories.
Time-restricted eating is considered a form of intermittent fasting, explained Krista Varady, one of the researchers on the study. The principle is simple: People limit themselves to eating between certain hours of the day, and then fast -- with the exception of water and calorie-free drinks -- for the remaining time.
The weight-loss tactic has become popular -- largely because it's easy to follow, said Varady, a professor of nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Advertisement
There's no calorie-counting, she explained, and people can eat what they want.
"You just have to watch the clock," Varady said. "People seem to like it much more than other diets."
The problem is, there has not been much scientific proof that time-restricted eating works. Animal research has suggested intermittent fasting, in general, can have a broad range of effects -- from reducing markers of inflammation in the body, to changing the makeup of gut bacteria, to spurring weight loss.
But, Varady pointed out, lab mice are not humans. And the kinds of fasting lab animals undergo are not really reflective of what people experience on a time-restricted diet.
For the new study, Varady and her colleagues tested two eating plans. In one, people ate between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and fasted the rest of the day. The other diet allowed a wider time window for eating, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Those hours were chosen for a practical reason, Varady said: "People like to eat dinner with their families."
The researchers randomly assigned 58 people to either follow one of the time-restricted diets, or stick with their usual diet and exercise routine.
Over eight weeks, both diet groups lost about 3% of their body weight, on average, while the comparison group held steady. The shorter four-hour window was no more effective than the longer one.
Advertisement
Overall, the diet groups showed no changes in inflammatory markers in their blood. But they did slash calories from their usual daily intake -- around 550 a day, in both groups. Varady said she thinks that fully accounts for the weight loss.
So why not just cut calories from your diet in the traditional way?
"People get sick of counting calories," Varady said. "This makes it simpler."
That's not to say time-restricted eating is a piece of cake. In the first week or two, people tend to get headaches, dizziness and nausea -- and some give up, according to Varady.
But, she said, once the body adjusts to the new eating schedule, those symptoms go away.
Like all diets, though, it's not for everyone, Varady said. People who are on medications that need to be taken with food, for example, may not be able to restrict their eating schedule. And people who exercise in the morning might have a hard time forgoing food till the afternoon, so a change in routine might be necessary.
It's also unclear how well the current findings might generalize, said Dr. Emily Gallagher, an assistant professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes and bone disease at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine in New York City. She wasn't part of the research.
Advertisement
The study group was mostly women in their 40s, Gallagher said, so the results might differ for men or women of different ages, for example.
Another big question, she said, is whether people can stick with the diet in the "real world," and maintain any initial weight loss.
Varady said the eating plan cannot just be a quick fix, where people lose weight, then go back to their old ways.
And while the diet technically allows any foods, it's probably unwise to eat junk food for four hours each day.
"Diet quality does matter to your health," Varady said. "It's still important to eat fewer processed foods and get more fruits and vegetables."
The findings are published online July 15 in Cell Metabolism.
More information
Harvard Medical School has more on intermittent fasting.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-07-21--Gallup: More in U.S. have returned to work, 'always' using PPE

July 21 ( UPI ) -- More American workers have returned to the workplace and more are using protective equipment like masks and gloves , a Gallup survey said Tuesday .
The COVID-19 tracking survey based on interviews with members of Gallup 's probability online panel showed 39 % of workers said all or nearly all employees have moved back to the workplace -- an 11 % increase from April .
Just 10 % said none of their coworkers have returned to the office .
Fifty-eight percent said they `` always '' use personal protective equipment at work , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-thirds said their employers are providing the equipment .
The survey , however , found a slight decline in workers ( 51 % ) who now say their company is enforcing a six-foot distancing rule less .
In April , that figure was 55 % .
The survey also found that fewer employees ( 38 % ) are `` always '' working from home .
`` Many U.S. companies have expressed a commitment to employee and customer safety as they attempt to continue to do business amid the coronavirus pandemic , '' Gallup @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus mitigation may be helping keep worker concerns about being exposed to the virus steady even as infections continue to rise in the U.S. '' Gallup polled more than 3,500 members of its panel for the survey , which has a margin of error of 3 points .

A worker is seen wearing a protective mask in Vernon, Calif., on May 21. Tuesday's Gallup poll said nearly 60 percent of U.S. workers say they always use protective equipment at their workplace. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
July 21 (UPI) -- More American workers have returned to the workplace and more are using protective equipment like masks and gloves, a Gallup survey said Tuesday. The COVID-19 tracking survey based on interviews with members of Gallup's probability online panel showed 39% of workers said all or nearly all employees have moved back to the workplace -- an 11% increase from April. Advertisement
Just 10% said none of their coworkers have returned to the office.
Fifty-eight percent said they "always" use personal protective equipment at work, an increase of 15%, and about two-thirds said their employers are providing the equipment.
The survey, however, found a slight decline in workers (51%) who now say their company is enforcing a six-foot distancing rule less. In April, that figure was 55%.
The survey also found that fewer employees (38%) are "always" working from home.
"Many U.S. companies have expressed a commitment to employee and customer safety as they attempt to continue to do business amid the coronavirus pandemic," Gallup wrote. "The positive steps toward coronavirus mitigation may be helping keep worker concerns about being exposed to the virus steady even as infections continue to rise in the U.S."
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Gallup polled more than 3,500 members of its panel for the survey, which has a margin of error of 3 points.