npr--2020-12-15--Biden, Pence Make Preparations To Get COVID-19 Vaccine

High-ranking officials , including President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Pence , are making preparations to get the COVID-19 vaccine , hoping to instill trust and confidence in the vaccine ahead of its widespread distribution as the death toll climbs to new heights .
Biden , who is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20 , said Tuesday it was recommended he get the vaccine `` sooner than later '' by infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci , who will become the Democrat 's chief medical adviser .
`` I want to just make sure we do it by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you 'll have notice , and we 'll do it publicly , '' Biden said .
Pence , the outgoing Republican vice president , and his team are discussing options for how and when he will receive a COVID-19 vaccine , an aide to Pence told NPR 's Tamara Keith .
President Trump , who has hailed the speed of vaccine development as among his greatest achievements in office , has not publicly said when he plans to be vaccinated .
A 2016 policy on continuity of government protocols provides for executive branch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public health officials have said that public demonstrations of elected leaders getting the vaccine can help Americans hesitant about its safety overcome their fears .
But on Sunday , Trump tweeted : `` People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program , unless specifically necessary .
I have asked that this adjustment be made .
I am not scheduled to take the vaccine , but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time . ''
When asked Tuesday about the possible timing of when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany would not commit to when he would do so nor whether he would do it publicly .
She said Trump already has antibodies to the virus because of his treatment for COVID-19 in the fall , and he wanted to make sure that front-line health care workers and people who are vulnerable to the virus get the vaccine first .
McEnany said some senior administration officials would get the vaccine publicly , with announcements on that plan coming in the next few days .
She said Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his White House doctor tell him it 's appropriate .
A recent poll by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist found that 61 % of Americans plan to get vaccinated , up from 49 % in September .
The Trump administration made a point of fast-tracking vaccine development , and the Food and Drug Administration last week authorized emergency use of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech after endorsement by an advisory panel and clinical trials showing 95 % effectiveness .
The first vaccinations in the U.S. began Monday .
On Tuesday , the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moderna was 94 % effective overall .

Biden, Pence Make Preparations To Get COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Drew Angerer/Getty Images Drew Angerer/Getty Images
High-ranking officials, including President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President Pence, are making preparations to get the COVID-19 vaccine, hoping to instill trust and confidence in the vaccine ahead of its widespread distribution as the death toll climbs to new heights.
Biden, who is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, said Tuesday it was recommended he get the vaccine "sooner than later" by infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, who will become the Democrat's chief medical adviser.
"I want to just make sure we do it by the numbers. When I do it, you'll have notice, and we'll do it publicly," Biden said.
Pence, the outgoing Republican vice president, and his team are discussing options for how and when he will receive a COVID-19 vaccine, an aide to Pence told NPR's Tamara Keith.
President Trump, who has hailed the speed of vaccine development as among his greatest achievements in office, has not publicly said when he plans to be vaccinated.
A 2016 policy on continuity of government protocols provides for executive branch leaders to receive the vaccine quickly, and public health officials have said that public demonstrations of elected leaders getting the vaccine can help Americans hesitant about its safety overcome their fears.
But on Sunday, Trump tweeted: "People working in the White House should receive the vaccine somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary. I have asked that this adjustment be made. I am not scheduled to take the vaccine, but look forward to doing so at the appropriate time."
When asked Tuesday about the possible timing of when the president might get the vaccine, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany would not commit to when he would do so nor whether he would do it publicly.
She said Trump already has antibodies to the virus because of his treatment for COVID-19 in the fall, and he wanted to make sure that front-line health care workers and people who are vulnerable to the virus get the vaccine first.
McEnany said some senior administration officials would get the vaccine publicly, with announcements on that plan coming in the next few days. She said Trump would take the vaccine when health experts and his White House doctor tell him it's appropriate.
A recent poll by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist found that 61% of Americans plan to get vaccinated, up from 49% in September.
The Trump administration made a point of fast-tracking vaccine development, and the Food and Drug Administration last week authorized emergency use of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech after endorsement by an advisory panel and clinical trials showing 95% effectiveness. The first vaccinations in the U.S. began Monday.
On Tuesday, the FDA reported that a separate vaccine from drugmaker Moderna was 94% effective overall.


npr--2020-12-15--Biden To Nominate Former Rival Buttigieg As Transportation Secretary

Biden To Nominate Former Rival Buttigieg As Transportation Secretary President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg to be his secretary of transportation , the transition team announced on Tuesday .
Buttigieg , one of Biden 's former rivals in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination , is the first openly LGBTQ person to be nominated for a permanent Cabinet position .
`` Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a patriot and a problem-solver who speaks to the best of who we are as a nation , '' Biden said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of so many of the interlocking challenges and opportunities ahead of us .
Jobs , infrastructure , equity , and climate all come together at the DOT , the site of some of our most ambitious plans to build back better .
I trust Mayor Pete to lead this work with focus , decency , and a bold vision — he will bring people together to get big things done . ''
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are expected to introduce Buttigieg in a Wednesday event .
Annise Parker , president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called the nomination a `` milestone '' and said in a statement that `` its impact will reverberate well-beyond the department he will lead .
It distances our nation from a troubled legacy of barring out LGBTQ people from government positions and moves us closer to the President-elect 's vision of a government that reflects America . ''
As head of the Department of Transportation , Buttigieg would oversee an agency of some 53,000 employees , with oversight of the nation 's airline industry , along with railroads , commercial trucking , mass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high-visibility post for the 38-year-old Buttigieg , if Biden follows through on his campaign promises to rebuild the nation 's infrastructure .
On his transition website , Biden says he will work to `` create millions of good , union jobs rebuilding America 's crumbling infrastructure — from roads and bridges to green spaces and water systems to electricity grids and universal broadband — to lay a new foundation for sustainable growth , compete in the global economy , withstand the impacts of climate change , and improve public health , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
He also vows to `` provide every American city with 100,000 or more residents with high-quality zero-emissions public transportation options '' that would include `` improving existing transit and bus lines to installing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists . ''
But much will depend on the will of Congress .
President Trump also pledged to improve the nation 's infrastructure but never followed through with lawmakers .
Buttigieg is a former Rhodes scholar and was a military intelligence analyst in the Navy , serving a tour in Afghanistan .
While he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was never able to expand his support beyond white voters and dropped out of the presidential race after the South Carolina primary , endorsing Biden .
Black Lives Matter activists have been critical of Buttigieg , citing inequality in South Bend during his tenure as mayor .
In a call earlier Tuesday with local BLM groups , South Bend leader Jorden Giger blasted Buttigieg 's housing and policing policies , charging that he `` would continue his record of hurting black communities every day in his decision-making process . ''
Buttigieg would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be confirmed by the Senate .
Richard Grenell , who is also openly gay , temporarily served as acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration but was not confirmed for the post .

Biden To Nominate Former Rival Buttigieg As Transportation Secretary
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bebeto Matthews/AP Bebeto Matthews/AP
Updated at 7:37 p.m. ET
President-elect Joe Biden plans to nominate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg to be his secretary of transportation, the transition team announced on Tuesday.
Buttigieg, one of Biden's former rivals in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination, is the first openly LGBTQ person to be nominated for a permanent Cabinet position.
"Mayor Pete Buttigieg is a patriot and a problem-solver who speaks to the best of who we are as a nation," Biden said in a statement.
"This position stands at the nexus of so many of the interlocking challenges and opportunities ahead of us. Jobs, infrastructure, equity, and climate all come together at the DOT, the site of some of our most ambitious plans to build back better. I trust Mayor Pete to lead this work with focus, decency, and a bold vision — he will bring people together to get big things done."
Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are expected to introduce Buttigieg in a Wednesday event.
Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Institute, called the nomination a "milestone" and said in a statement that "its impact will reverberate well-beyond the department he will lead. It distances our nation from a troubled legacy of barring out LGBTQ people from government positions and moves us closer to the President-elect's vision of a government that reflects America."
As head of the Department of Transportation, Buttigieg would oversee an agency of some 53,000 employees, with oversight of the nation's airline industry, along with railroads, commercial trucking, mass transit and pipelines.
It could become a high-visibility post for the 38-year-old Buttigieg, if Biden follows through on his campaign promises to rebuild the nation's infrastructure.
On his transition website, Biden says he will work to "create millions of good, union jobs rebuilding America's crumbling infrastructure — from roads and bridges to green spaces and water systems to electricity grids and universal broadband — to lay a new foundation for sustainable growth, compete in the global economy, withstand the impacts of climate change, and improve public health, including access to clean air and clean water."
He also vows to "provide every American city with 100,000 or more residents with high-quality zero-emissions public transportation options" that would include "improving existing transit and bus lines to installing infrastructure for pedestrians and bicyclists."
But much will depend on the will of Congress. President Trump also pledged to improve the nation's infrastructure but never followed through with lawmakers.
Buttigieg is a former Rhodes scholar and was a military intelligence analyst in the Navy, serving a tour in Afghanistan. While he finished first in the Iowa caucuses, he was never able to expand his support beyond white voters and dropped out of the presidential race after the South Carolina primary, endorsing Biden.
Black Lives Matter activists have been critical of Buttigieg, citing inequality in South Bend during his tenure as mayor. In a call earlier Tuesday with local BLM groups, South Bend leader Jorden Giger blasted Buttigieg's housing and policing policies, charging that he "would continue his record of hurting black communities every day in his decision-making process."
Buttigieg would become the first openly gay Cabinet member to be confirmed by the Senate. Richard Grenell, who is also openly gay, temporarily served as acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration but was not confirmed for the post.
NPR political reporter Juana Summers contributed to this report.


npr--2020-12-15--Poll: Americans Are Growing Less Reluctant To Take COVID-19 Vaccine

Poll : Americans Are Growing Less Reluctant To Take COVID-19 Vaccine Now that federal regulators have authorized one COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the U.S. — and appear close to authorizing another — it seems Americans are growing less reluctant about receiving an inoculation themselves .
The Kaiser Family Foundation , or KFF , released a poll Tuesday showing a significant leap in the number of people saying they definitely or probably would get vaccinated .
About 71 % of respondents to the late November and early December survey said they would get a vaccine , up from 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the increase was evident across all racial and ethnic groups surveyed , as well as both Democrats and Republicans .
Of course , since the previous poll , there have been important advances in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 , which has cost more than 300,000 lives in the U.S .
Earlier this week , health care professionals began administering the first doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech , just days after the vaccine obtained its emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysis of a vaccine developed by Moderna suggested that another vaccine is on track for authorization .
The KFF poll results offer hopeful news for epidemiologists and federal officials , who , along with developing and distributing the Pfizer vaccine for widespread immunizations , have faced another yet another daunting task : simply persuading Americans to trust it and get it themselves .
`` The FDA 's review process means that all Americans can trust and be confident in vaccines — not just COVID-19 vaccines , but all vaccines reviewed by the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Peter Marks , director of the FDA 's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research , asserted in a news briefing Saturday .
Just over a quarter of respondents in the KFF poll continued to express skepticism , saying that they either probably or definitely would not get a vaccine , even if it is available for free and determined by scientists to be safe .
Among those who expressed this reluctance , most said that they were worried about possible side effects , or that they just do not trust the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in particular , at 42 % — though even among members of the GOP , such skepticism appears to be eroding in recent months .
The percentage of Republicans saying that they will probably or definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine leapt 9 points since the August/September poll , and now stands at 56 % .
That number is considerably higher — 86 % — among Democrats .

Poll: Americans Are Growing Less Reluctant To Take COVID-19 Vaccine
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jose M. Osorio-Pool/Getty Images Jose M. Osorio-Pool/Getty Images
Now that federal regulators have authorized one COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in the U.S. — and appear close to authorizing another — it seems Americans are growing less reluctant about receiving an inoculation themselves. The Kaiser Family Foundation, or KFF, released a poll Tuesday showing a significant leap in the number of people saying they definitely or probably would get vaccinated.
About 71% of respondents to the late November and early December survey said they would get a vaccine, up from 63% in an August/September poll. KFF says the increase was evident across all racial and ethnic groups surveyed, as well as both Democrats and Republicans.
Of course, since the previous poll, there have been important advances in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19, which has cost more than 300,000 lives in the U.S.
Earlier this week, health care professionals began administering the first doses of a vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, just days after the vaccine obtained its emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. And on Tuesday, the agency's glowing analysis of a vaccine developed by Moderna suggested that another vaccine is on track for authorization.
The KFF poll results offer hopeful news for epidemiologists and federal officials, who, along with developing and distributing the Pfizer vaccine for widespread immunizations, have faced another yet another daunting task: simply persuading Americans to trust it and get it themselves.
"The FDA's review process means that all Americans can trust and be confident in vaccines — not just COVID-19 vaccines, but all vaccines reviewed by the FDA and available in the United States," Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, asserted in a news briefing Saturday.
Just over a quarter of respondents in the KFF poll continued to express skepticism, saying that they either probably or definitely would not get a vaccine, even if it is available for free and determined by scientists to be safe. Among those who expressed this reluctance, most said that they were worried about possible side effects, or that they just do not trust the government.
This hesitancy is highest among Republicans, in particular, at 42% — though even among members of the GOP, such skepticism appears to be eroding in recent months. The percentage of Republicans saying that they will probably or definitely get a COVID-19 vaccine leapt 9 points since the August/September poll, and now stands at 56%. That number is considerably higher — 86% — among Democrats.


npr--2020-12-15--Census Estimates U.S. Population As High As 336 Million Ahead Of Actual Count

Census Estimates U.S. Population As High As 336 Million Ahead Of Actual Count It 's still not clear when the U.S. Census Bureau will release the first results from the 2020 census .
But when it does , the bureau estimates the count may show that the U.S. population has grown by as much as 8.7 % since the 2010 census , which produced a count of 308.7 million people .
According to the bureau 's Demographic Analysis estimates released Tuesday , the number of people living in the country as of this year 's Census Day , April 1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 330.7 million to 335.5 million .
The bureau uses the estimates , as well as other quality indicators , to try to determine the accuracy of each census after the results are released .
By putting out estimates now as benchmarks , the agency is trying to allow the public to `` come to their own conclusions '' about the bureau 's work , explained during a press conference Tuesday .
The figures from Demographic Analysis are based primarily on birth and death certificates , Medicare enrollment files and other government records — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on household responses to a questionnaire .
People who died from COVID-19 before April 1 were taken into account when the bureau worked on the estimates , said Eric Jensen , the bureau 's senior technical expert for Demographic Analysis .
The team that produced the estimates used monthly data about deaths from the National Center for Health Statistics .
`` There were n't a lot of COVID deaths relative to what we see later in the year , but we did include COVID deaths in our estimates , '' Jensen said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bureau took extra steps to reflect the coronavirus pandemic 's impact .
The 2020 census does not count U.S. residents who died this year before Census Day , but it does include people who died on or after April 1 , according to the bureau 's residence criteria .
These estimates do not affect each state 's share of congressional seats , Electoral College votes or more than $ 1.5 trillion a year in federal money for public services .
But in a tumultuous year that saw the constitutionally mandated tally disrupted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons and last-minute schedule changes by the Trump administration , any indicator of the count 's precision is receiving intense scrutiny from census watchers .
One of the bureau 's most pressing challenges right now is trying to resolve irregularities in this year 's census records , which if left unfixed , could leave millions of people miscounted .
A particular concern among census watchers is whether the bureau has been able to count every resident once , only once , and in the right place , an often repeated goal of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redrawing of voting districts , social science and public health research and policymaking that rely on census results .
The answer , however , wo n't be found in the bureau 's Demographic Analysis estimates , which only provide a national-level look and do not give breakdowns by state or local community .
In fact , the Census Scientific Advisory Committee , one of the bureau 's two panels of outside experts focusing on the 2020 census , warned in its recommendations to the agency last month that `` the final 2020 Census @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Analysis numbers , and still many people could be counted in the wrong place , double counted , or not counted at all . ''
The bureau is currently conducting the Post-Enumeration Survey — a sort of mini-census involving fewer than 200,000 households — to determine how the 2020 census may have miscounted the country 's population .
But the first results of that survey , also hindered by COVID-19 , are not scheduled for release until November 2021 .
In the meantime , a task force assembled by the American Statistical Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and members of President-elect Joe Biden 's transition agency review team for the Commerce Department , which oversees the Census Bureau — has been calling for the bureau to release additional quality indicators about this year 's count .
In response , the bureau announced this month it 's planning to release more quality metrics and allow independent experts to compare them with the census results in early 2021 .
But exactly when that will happen in the new year remains an open question .
The timing of the results ' release has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make an unprecedented change that would leave unauthorized immigrants out of the numbers used to reallocate the 435 seats in the House of Representatives as well as votes in the next Electoral College .
The Constitution requires the count to include the `` whole number of persons in each state . ''
The Supreme Court has been reviewing a lower court ruling that has blocked that Trump memo , and despite the administration urging the justices to release a decision soon , the high court did not do so on Monday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year .
After ending counting early , the administration has been pressuring the bureau to shorten the timeline for quality checks to try to deliver the first set of census results before the end of Trump 's term on Jan. 20 .
But the bureau has been on track to miss the Dec. 31 legal reporting deadline for months , and there 's a chance that by the time it finishes putting together the numbers , Biden will be in the White House .

Census Estimates U.S. Population As High As 336 Million Ahead Of Actual Count
Enlarge this image toggle caption Blake Nissen/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Blake Nissen/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Updated Wednesday at 12:12 a.m. ET
It's still not clear when the U.S. Census Bureau will release the first results from the 2020 census.
But when it does, the bureau estimates the count may show that the U.S. population has grown by as much as 8.7% since the 2010 census, which produced a count of 308.7 million people.
If the Demographic Analysis estimates released by the bureau on Tuesday are proved out in the official numbers, it would be the slowest rate of growth the U.S. has seen since the 1940 census. That national head count showed a 7.3% population increase during the 1930s, which was marked by lingering effects of the Great Depression.
The bureau estimates the number of people living in the country as of this year's Census Day, April 1, could fall within the range of 330.7 million to 335.5 million.
The bureau uses the estimates, as well as other quality indicators, to try to determine the accuracy of each census after the results are released. By putting out estimates now as benchmarks, the agency is trying to allow the public to "come to their own conclusions" about the bureau's work, Karen Battle, chief of the bureau's population division, explained during a press conference Tuesday.
The figures from Demographic Analysis are based primarily on birth and death certificates, Medicare enrollment files and other government records — unlike the census, which relies mainly on household responses to a questionnaire.
People who died from COVID-19 before April 1 were taken into account when the bureau worked on the estimates, said Eric Jensen, the bureau's senior technical expert for Demographic Analysis. The team that produced the estimates used monthly data about deaths from the National Center for Health Statistics.
"There weren't a lot of COVID deaths relative to what we see later in the year, but we did include COVID deaths in our estimates," Jensen said during Tuesday's briefing, noting that the bureau took extra steps to reflect the coronavirus pandemic's impact.
The 2020 census does not count U.S. residents who died this year before Census Day, but it does include people who died on or after April 1, according to the bureau's residence criteria.
These estimates do not affect each state's share of congressional seats, Electoral College votes or more than $1.5 trillion a year in federal money for public services.
But in a tumultuous year that saw the constitutionally mandated tally disrupted by the pandemic, historic hurricane and wildfire seasons and last-minute schedule changes by the Trump administration, any indicator of the count's precision is receiving intense scrutiny from census watchers.
One of the bureau's most pressing challenges right now is trying to resolve irregularities in this year's census records, which if left unfixed, could leave millions of people miscounted.
A particular concern among census watchers is whether the bureau has been able to count every resident once, only once, and in the right place, an often repeated goal of the bureau that carries major implications for the redrawing of voting districts, social science and public health research and policymaking that rely on census results.
The answer, however, won't be found in the bureau's Demographic Analysis estimates, which only provide a national-level look and do not give breakdowns by state or local community.
In fact, the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, one of the bureau's two panels of outside experts focusing on the 2020 census, warned in its recommendations to the agency last month that "the final 2020 Census results may be close to the Demographic Analysis numbers, and still many people could be counted in the wrong place, double counted, or not counted at all."
The bureau is currently conducting the Post-Enumeration Survey — a sort of mini-census involving fewer than 200,000 households — to determine how the 2020 census may have miscounted the country's population.
But the first results of that survey, also hindered by COVID-19, are not scheduled for release until November 2021.
In the meantime, a task force assembled by the American Statistical Association — which includes former Census Bureau directors and members of President-elect Joe Biden's transition agency review team for the Commerce Department, which oversees the Census Bureau — has been calling for the bureau to release additional quality indicators about this year's count.
In response, the bureau announced this month it's planning to release more quality metrics and allow independent experts to compare them with the census results in early 2021.
But exactly when that will happen in the new year remains an open question.
The timing of the results' release has become entangled with President Trump's push to make an unprecedented change that would leave unauthorized immigrants out of the numbers used to reallocate the 435 seats in the House of Representatives as well as votes in the next Electoral College. The Constitution requires the count to include the "whole number of persons in each state."
The Supreme Court has been reviewing a lower court ruling that has blocked that Trump memo, and despite the administration urging the justices to release a decision soon, the high court did not do so on Monday, its last scheduled day for releasing rulings this year.
After ending counting early, the administration has been pressuring the bureau to shorten the timeline for quality checks to try to deliver the first set of census results before the end of Trump's term on Jan. 20.
But the bureau has been on track to miss the Dec. 31 legal reporting deadline for months, and there's a chance that by the time it finishes putting together the numbers, Biden will be in the White House.


npr--2020-12-15--FDA Authorizes 1st Home Coronavirus Test That Doesn't Require A Prescription

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized the first coronavirus test that people will be able to buy at a local store without a prescription and use for immediate results at home to find out if they 're positive or negative .
The test will cost about $ 30 and be available by January , according to the Australian company that makes it , Ellume .
The FDA had previously authorized other tests that let people avoid long lines by collecting a sample themselves at home .
But those tests require people to send the sample to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another recently authorized test does n't have to be sent off to a lab , but it requires a prescription to get it .
The new test is the first that people will be able to buy without a prescription at a local store and do entirely at home on their own .
It takes about five minutes to collect the sample and produces results within 15 minutes .
`` Today 's authorization is a major milestone in diagnostic testing for COVID-19 , '' FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement announcing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special swab that enables users to collect a sample from just inside their nose .
Because it can be used on adults and children as young as 2 years old , the swab comes with a special adapter that shortens the length when swabbing youngsters .
Users add a few drops of liquid to the sample and place it into a small plastic device that looks like a home pregnancy test .
Results are wirelessly transmitted to a smartphone app within about 15 minutes .
`` This is the first test which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at-home test yourself and obtain a result , '' Sean Parsons , the company 's CEO , told NPR in an interview before the authorization .
`` This could be used for people to test themselves , for example , before going to a sporting event or a concert or going to a church to decrease the chance that they spread it other people , '' Parsons says .
The company , which received about $ 30 million from the National Institutes of Health to ramp up production capacity , will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by January , Parsons says .
By March , production should increase to about 250,000 tests a day .
By June , productions should hit 1 million a day .
Testing experts welcome the authorization , but some note that the cost and limit on production capacity will restrict the impact the test will have on controlling the spread of the virus .
`` It will be a game-changer , I think , to help people quickly identify if their symptoms are due to COVID , '' says Dr. Michael Mina , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chan School of Public Health .
`` But from the perspective of truly stopping or massively slowing this pandemic , this test is n't designed for that . ''
The technology the test uses detects proteins from the virus called antigens .
The most commonly used tests , known as PCR tests , detect genetic material from the virus .
Mina has been advocating for the FDA to approve much simpler , less expensive antigen tests that could be produced in the tens of millions per day .
To obtain the authorization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 198 adults and children in five states .
The test is 96 % accurate , the study shows , according to the FDA and the company .
But the FDA and others note that antigen tests tend to be less accurate than PCR tests and may miss more infected people , giving false negative results .
`` What you worry about is telling somebody , 'No , you do n't have COVID , ' when in fact they do .
And if that was the case , they could continue to spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a testing expert at the Cleveland Clinic .
Procop says the test may be even more likely to incorrectly say someone is infected , i.e.
, a false positive , when they 're really not , which can prompt them to isolate themselves unnecessarily .
`` We do n't want to take surgeons out of surgery suites and ICU nurses out of the ICU based on false-positive results , '' Procop says .
In announcing the authorization , the FDA acknowledged the test 's potential shortcomings but stressed the advantages of speed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it can be used completely at home and return results quickly means that it can play an important role in response to the pandemic , '' said Dr. Jeff Shuren , director of FDA 's Center for Devices and Radiological Health , in the FDA 's announcement .

FDA Authorizes 1st Home Coronavirus Test That Doesn't Require A Prescription
Enlarge this image toggle caption Ellume Health Ellume Health
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized the first coronavirus test that people will be able to buy at a local store without a prescription and use for immediate results at home to find out if they're positive or negative.
The test will cost about $30 and be available by January, according to the Australian company that makes it, Ellume.
The FDA had previously authorized other tests that let people avoid long lines by collecting a sample themselves at home. But those tests require people to send the sample to a lab and wait for the results. Another recently authorized test doesn't have to be sent off to a lab, but it requires a prescription to get it.
The new test is the first that people will be able to buy without a prescription at a local store and do entirely at home on their own. It takes about five minutes to collect the sample and produces results within 15 minutes.
"Today's authorization is a major milestone in diagnostic testing for COVID-19," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement announcing the authorization.
The test kit includes a special swab that enables users to collect a sample from just inside their nose. Because it can be used on adults and children as young as 2 years old, the swab comes with a special adapter that shortens the length when swabbing youngsters.
Users add a few drops of liquid to the sample and place it into a small plastic device that looks like a home pregnancy test. Results are wirelessly transmitted to a smartphone app within about 15 minutes.
"This is the first test which is really designed to be a true at-home test yourself and obtain a result," Sean Parsons, the company's CEO, told NPR in an interview before the authorization.
"This could be used for people to test themselves, for example, before going to a sporting event or a concert or going to a church to decrease the chance that they spread it other people," Parsons says.
The company, which received about $30 million from the National Institutes of Health to ramp up production capacity, will be able to produce about 100,000 tests a day by January, Parsons says. By March, production should increase to about 250,000 tests a day. By June, productions should hit 1 million a day.
Testing experts welcome the authorization, but some note that the cost and limit on production capacity will restrict the impact the test will have on controlling the spread of the virus.
"It will be a game-changer, I think, to help people quickly identify if their symptoms are due to COVID," says Dr. Michael Mina, an infectious disease specialist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. "But from the perspective of truly stopping or massively slowing this pandemic, this test isn't designed for that."
The technology the test uses detects proteins from the virus called antigens. The most commonly used tests, known as PCR tests, detect genetic material from the virus.
Mina has been advocating for the FDA to approve much simpler, less expensive antigen tests that could be produced in the tens of millions per day.
To obtain the authorization, Ellume evaluated the test on samples from 198 adults and children in five states. The test is 96% accurate, the study shows, according to the FDA and the company.
But the FDA and others note that antigen tests tend to be less accurate than PCR tests and may miss more infected people, giving false negative results.
"What you worry about is telling somebody, 'No, you don't have COVID,' when in fact they do. And if that was the case, they could continue to spread it," says Dr. Gary Procop, a testing expert at the Cleveland Clinic.
Procop says the test may be even more likely to incorrectly say someone is infected, i.e., a false positive, when they're really not, which can prompt them to isolate themselves unnecessarily.
"We don't want to take surgeons out of surgery suites and ICU nurses out of the ICU based on false-positive results," Procop says.
In announcing the authorization, the FDA acknowledged the test's potential shortcomings but stressed the advantages of speed and convenience.
"The fact that it can be used completely at home and return results quickly means that it can play an important role in response to the pandemic," said Dr. Jeff Shuren, director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in the FDA's announcement.


npr--2020-12-15--Some European Countries Batten Down For The Holidays With New Coronavirus Lockdowns

Some European Countries Batten Down For The Holidays With New Coronavirus Lockdowns The holiday season is upon us , and usually that means packed shopping malls and kisses beneath the mistletoe , long-distance travel and big family festivities — just about everything , in other words , that could make an already dire pandemic even worse .
So officials in multiple European countries , caught between a yule log and a hard place , are imposing a new wave of strict coronavirus lockdowns .
Leaders in Germany , the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have announced bans on large gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second half of December into January .
`` We have no choice : The number of contacts between people must be reduced , '' Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a televised address to the country Monday evening .
`` Everything must now be focused on that . ''
For residents in the Netherlands , that means a swift and drastic curtailment of social and economic life .
Beginning this week , and continuing at least until Jan. 18 , all public-facing businesses except grocery stores , pharmacies and banks must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their goods only through delivery and takeout , and schools must conduct only remote classes during this period .
What 's more , households will be allowed just two visitors over the age of 13 per day , with three allowed only on Dec. 24-26 , for the Christmas holiday .
And he strongly urged Dutch residents to `` stay at home as much as possible '' and avoid travel when at all possible , at least through March .
`` We have to bite through this very sour apple before things get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered the address from his office in The Hague .
During the speech , demonstrators protesting the lockdown measures outside could be heard shouting and whistling loudly in the background .
`` The reality is that we are not dealing with a harmless flu , which some people — like the demonstrators outside — still think , '' he added .
`` But a virus that can hit anyone hard , not only the very oldest among us . ''
The country of some 17 million people has reported more than 630,000 confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data compiled by Johns Hopkins University , and another spike in cases is well underway there .
On Sunday alone , Dutch health officials reported nearly 9,900 new cases .
The Netherlands is far from alone , however .
Similar spikes have become clear across Europe — including in the Czech Republic , where leaders rolled out strict new coronavirus measures the same day the Dutch prime minister delivered his address .
The Czech government had loosened its restrictions just about two weeks ago , but Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the worsening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must act immediately . ''
`` I can imagine the great disappointment of people who do business in the hospitality industry , who do business in the hotel industry , who work every day , employ people and find it hard to find credit and do business , '' Babis said , as he announced the reimposition of a curfew and the closure of restaurants , museums and indoor sports venues , among other spaces , beginning Friday .
`` I understand that this is not good news . ''
On Wednesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strict coronavirus regulations for the holidays .
Restaurants and bars have already been shuttered in the country since last month , but officials now say nonessential shops and in-person classes must also close for nearly four weeks .
Germany is restricting the number of people allowed at social gatherings over the holidays — with a maximum of five people from no more than two households allowed to gather in a single home .
As in the Netherlands , this will be relaxed slightly for three days over Christmas .
German Health Minister Jens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal and state officials have struggled to maintain a balance between public safety and economic and social interests — but that , `` in view of the numbers , this balance could no longer be maintained . ''
`` All of this will impact our holiday season , as we are all aware , '' German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged on Sunday when she unveiled the new lockdown .
`` But we must act , and we will act . ''

Some European Countries Batten Down For The Holidays With New Coronavirus Lockdowns
Enlarge this image toggle caption Tobias Schwarz/AP Tobias Schwarz/AP
The holiday season is upon us, and usually that means packed shopping malls and kisses beneath the mistletoe, long-distance travel and big family festivities — just about everything, in other words, that could make an already dire pandemic even worse. So officials in multiple European countries, caught between a yule log and a hard place, are imposing a new wave of strict coronavirus lockdowns.
Leaders in Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic have announced bans on large gatherings and the closure of nonessential businesses over the second half of December into January.
"We have no choice: The number of contacts between people must be reduced," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a televised address to the country Monday evening. "Everything must now be focused on that."
For residents in the Netherlands, that means a swift and drastic curtailment of social and economic life. Beginning this week, and continuing at least until Jan. 18, all public-facing businesses except grocery stores, pharmacies and banks must close. Most retail stores can sell their goods only through delivery and takeout, and schools must conduct only remote classes during this period.
What's more, households will be allowed just two visitors over the age of 13 per day, with three allowed only on Dec. 24-26, for the Christmas holiday. And he strongly urged Dutch residents to "stay at home as much as possible" and avoid travel when at all possible, at least through March.
Enlarge this image toggle caption Bart Maat/ANP/AFP via Getty Images Bart Maat/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
"We have to bite through this very sour apple before things get better," said Rutte, who delivered the address from his office in The Hague. During the speech, demonstrators protesting the lockdown measures outside could be heard shouting and whistling loudly in the background.
"The reality is that we are not dealing with a harmless flu, which some people — like the demonstrators outside — still think," he added. "But a virus that can hit anyone hard, not only the very oldest among us."
The country of some 17 million people has reported more than 630,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, and another spike in cases is well underway there. On Sunday alone, Dutch health officials reported nearly 9,900 new cases.
The Netherlands is far from alone, however.
Similar spikes have become clear across Europe — including in the Czech Republic, where leaders rolled out strict new coronavirus measures the same day the Dutch prime minister delivered his address. The Czech government had loosened its restrictions just about two weeks ago, but Prime Minister Andrej Babis said the worsening situation in recent days meant "we must act immediately."
"I can imagine the great disappointment of people who do business in the hospitality industry, who do business in the hotel industry, who work every day, employ people and find it hard to find credit and do business," Babis said, as he announced the reimposition of a curfew and the closure of restaurants, museums and indoor sports venues, among other spaces, beginning Friday. "I understand that this is not good news."
On Wednesday, meanwhile, Germany will also be implementing strict coronavirus regulations for the holidays. Restaurants and bars have already been shuttered in the country since last month, but officials now say nonessential shops and in-person classes must also close for nearly four weeks.
Germany is restricting the number of people allowed at social gatherings over the holidays — with a maximum of five people from no more than two households allowed to gather in a single home. As in the Netherlands, this will be relaxed slightly for three days over Christmas.
German Health Minister Jens Spahn told a news conference Tuesday that federal and state officials have struggled to maintain a balance between public safety and economic and social interests — but that, "in view of the numbers, this balance could no longer be maintained."
"All of this will impact our holiday season, as we are all aware," German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged on Sunday when she unveiled the new lockdown. "But we must act, and we will act."


npr--2020-12-15--Right-Wing Embrace Of Conspiracy Is 'Mass Radicalization,' Experts Warn

The widespread embrace of conspiracy and disinformation amounts to a `` mass radicalization '' of Americans , and increases the risk of right-wing violence , veteran security officials and terrorism researchers warn .
At conferences , in op-eds and at agency meetings , domestic terrorism analysts are raising concern about the security implications of millions of conservatives buying into baseless right-wing claims .
They say the line between mainstream and fringe is vanishing , with conspiracy-minded Republicans now marching alongside armed extremists at rallies across the country .
Disparate factions on the right are coalescing into one side , analysts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are cocooned in their own news outlets , their own social media networks and , ultimately , their own `` truth . ''
`` This tent that used to be sort of 'far-right extremists ' has gotten a lot broader .
To me , a former counterterrorism official , that 's a radicalization process , '' said Mary McCord , a former federal prosecutor who oversaw terrorism cases and who 's now a law professor at Georgetown University .
McCord was speaking at a recent online conference , Millions of Conversations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Along with McCord , several other former officials who served in senior national security roles said the mass embrace of bogus information poses a serious national security concern for the incoming Biden administration .
They added that there 's no easy foil for a right-wing propaganda effort that amplifies fears and grievances on a nonstop loop .
Those beliefs already have inspired political violence at protests over lockdowns and racial injustice .
Political conspiracies drew thousands to last weekend 's pro-Trump rally , after which the Proud Boys and other violent extremist groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Breaking through that echo chamber is critical or else we 'll see more violence , '' said Elizabeth Neumann , who in April resigned her post leading the Department of Homeland Security office that oversees responses to violent extremism .
While it 's impossible to pin down the scope of such beliefs , analysts say , the numbers are staggering if even a fraction of President Trump 's more than 74 million voters support bogus claims that say , for example , the election was rigged , the coronavirus is a hoax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takeover .
Traffic numbers for right-wing outlets and livestreams suggest the support extends well beyond the margins .
Recent polls also signal the spread : One survey found that around 77 % of Trump supporters believe that Joe Biden won the election as a result of fraud despite no evidence to support that claim .
At the online conference , participants characterized the shift as a mass radicalization .
Neumann said the issue keeps her up at night worrying about where the country is heading .
She talked about family members who 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation .
She said conversations with them require patience and negotiation , such as laying out her conditions for coronavirus safety protocols at family gatherings .
Neumann said it 's hard to imagine what it would take to replicate those tough conversations on a national scale , given the power and reach of conservative media .
`` I am wrestling with : How do I help people that have , unbeknownst to them , they 've become radicalized in their thought ?
They hold views they did n't hold 10 years ago because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infotainment , '' Neumann said .
`` Unless we help them break the deception , we can not operate with 30 % of the country holding the extreme views that they do . ''
Jason Dempsey , a military analyst and former Army officer on the panel , said too many people are turning to force as a response to fears over political divisions , whether through the military and law enforcement , or the formation of local armed groups .
The election-rigging rhetoric only ups the ante as Democrats are painted no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views but as enemies who must be vanquished .
`` There are no easy answers , even if they 're carrying guns and wearing body armor , '' Dempsey said .
`` We 've got to get past that and be wary of the idea of militarism that does n't lead to a common conception of service , but leads to the kind of tribalism where we have to protect ourselves and our families by force against those we disagree with . ''
On the conference call , the analysts agreed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its own conspiracies .
But they said there 's simply no equivalency with the right in terms of the volume of disinformation and conspiracy , or in its connections to violent acts .
`` There is a monetization of outrage on both sides , '' Neumann said , `` but in particular the conservative infotainment sector makes money off of that outrage . ''
On the topic of solutions , the panelists floated ideas about education , media literacy , trusted mediators .
But they added there 's little chance of progress until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disinformation , is out of the White House .
`` Leadership matters , '' said Kori Schake , who was a senior adviser in the State Department , Defense Department and the National Security Council .
`` It really matters that the president of the United States is an arsonist of radicalization .
And it will really help when that is no longer the case . ''
The online conference wrapped up the way many such discussions do : without a clear solution , at least in the near-term .
The same what-do-we-do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among researchers and at tech companies .
Nobody expects polarization – or its spinoff , radicalization – to go away when Trump is out of office .
It 's now a fixture of the American political landscape , part of an international trend toward right-wing populism , said Arie Kruglanski , a University of Maryland professor who 's written extensively about radicalization .
He said the erosion of trust in public institutions leaves ample room for disinformation to take root .
`` We do n't trust the government .
We do n't trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court .
We do n't trust now the science .
We do n't trust medicine .
We do n't trust the media for sure , '' Kruglanski said .
`` So who do we trust ?
Well , we trust our tribe .
We trust conspiracy theories that tell us what we want to hear . ''
Kruglanski said revolutions and wars throughout history offer examples of how quickly extremism can go mainstream .
`` Every large political movement started at one point as a small fringe minority , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , it can engulf the whole society .
So , you know , the danger is there . ''

Right-Wing Embrace Of Conspiracy Is 'Mass Radicalization,' Experts Warn
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images Zach D Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images
The widespread embrace of conspiracy and disinformation amounts to a "mass radicalization" of Americans, and increases the risk of right-wing violence, veteran security officials and terrorism researchers warn.
At conferences, in op-eds and at agency meetings, domestic terrorism analysts are raising concern about the security implications of millions of conservatives buying into baseless right-wing claims. They say the line between mainstream and fringe is vanishing, with conspiracy-minded Republicans now marching alongside armed extremists at rallies across the country. Disparate factions on the right are coalescing into one side, analysts say, self-proclaimed "real Americans" who are cocooned in their own news outlets, their own social media networks and, ultimately, their own "truth."
"This tent that used to be sort of 'far-right extremists' has gotten a lot broader. To me, a former counterterrorism official, that's a radicalization process," said Mary McCord, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw terrorism cases and who's now a law professor at Georgetown University.
McCord was speaking at a recent online conference, Millions of Conversations, an organization aimed at reducing polarization. Along with McCord, several other former officials who served in senior national security roles said the mass embrace of bogus information poses a serious national security concern for the incoming Biden administration.
Weekend protest
They added that there's no easy foil for a right-wing propaganda effort that amplifies fears and grievances on a nonstop loop. Those beliefs already have inspired political violence at protests over lockdowns and racial injustice. Political conspiracies drew thousands to last weekend's pro-Trump rally, after which the Proud Boys and other violent extremist groups wreaked havoc in downtown Washington, D.C.
"Breaking through that echo chamber is critical or else we'll see more violence," said Elizabeth Neumann, who in April resigned her post leading the Department of Homeland Security office that oversees responses to violent extremism.
While it's impossible to pin down the scope of such beliefs, analysts say, the numbers are staggering if even a fraction of President Trump's more than 74 million voters support bogus claims that say, for example, the election was rigged, the coronavirus is a hoax, and liberals are hatching a socialist takeover.
Traffic numbers for right-wing outlets and livestreams suggest the support extends well beyond the margins. Recent polls also signal the spread: One survey found that around 77% of Trump supporters believe that Joe Biden won the election as a result of fraud despite no evidence to support that claim.
At the online conference, participants characterized the shift as a mass radicalization. Neumann said the issue keeps her up at night worrying about where the country is heading. She talked about family members who've gone down the right-wing rabbit hole of disinformation. She said conversations with them require patience and negotiation, such as laying out her conditions for coronavirus safety protocols at family gatherings.
Neumann said it's hard to imagine what it would take to replicate those tough conversations on a national scale, given the power and reach of conservative media.
"I am wrestling with: How do I help people that have, unbeknownst to them, they've become radicalized in their thought? They hold views they didn't hold 10 years ago because all they listen to is that conservative infotainment," Neumann said. "Unless we help them break the deception, we cannot operate with 30% of the country holding the extreme views that they do."
Show of force
Jason Dempsey, a military analyst and former Army officer on the panel, said too many people are turning to force as a response to fears over political divisions, whether through the military and law enforcement, or the formation of local armed groups. The election-rigging rhetoric only ups the ante as Democrats are painted no longer just as fellow citizens with different views but as enemies who must be vanquished.
"There are no easy answers, even if they're carrying guns and wearing body armor," Dempsey said. "We've got to get past that and be wary of the idea of militarism that doesn't lead to a common conception of service, but leads to the kind of tribalism where we have to protect ourselves and our families by force against those we disagree with."
On the conference call, the analysts agreed that the leftist fringe also is hardening and promoting its own conspiracies. But they said there's simply no equivalency with the right in terms of the volume of disinformation and conspiracy, or in its connections to violent acts.
"There is a monetization of outrage on both sides," Neumann said, "but in particular the conservative infotainment sector makes money off of that outrage."
On the topic of solutions, the panelists floated ideas about education, media literacy, trusted mediators. But they added there's little chance of progress until Trump, a superspreader of conspiracies and disinformation, is out of the White House.
"Leadership matters," said Kori Schake, who was a senior adviser in the State Department, Defense Department and the National Security Council. "It really matters that the president of the United States is an arsonist of radicalization. And it will really help when that is no longer the case."
Entrenched polarization
The online conference wrapped up the way many such discussions do: without a clear solution, at least in the near-term. The same what-do-we-do conversations are happening in political circles, among researchers and at tech companies.
Nobody expects polarization – or its spinoff, radicalization – to go away when Trump is out of office. It's now a fixture of the American political landscape, part of an international trend toward right-wing populism, said Arie Kruglanski, a University of Maryland professor who's written extensively about radicalization. He said the erosion of trust in public institutions leaves ample room for disinformation to take root.
"We don't trust the government. We don't trust the Congress. We don't trust the Supreme Court. We don't trust now the science. We don't trust medicine. We don't trust the media for sure," Kruglanski said. "So who do we trust? Well, we trust our tribe. We trust conspiracy theories that tell us what we want to hear."
Kruglanski said revolutions and wars throughout history offer examples of how quickly extremism can go mainstream.
"Every large political movement started at one point as a small fringe minority," he said. "And when it catches on, it can engulf the whole society. So, you know, the danger is there."


npr--2020-12-15--Fauci Predicts U.S. Could See Signs Of Herd Immunity By Late March Or Early April

Fauci Predicts U.S. Could See Signs Of Herd Immunity By Late March Or Early April Dr. Anthony Fauci , the nation 's senior official for infectious diseases , predicts the United States could begin to achieve early stages of herd immunity against the deadly coronavirus by late spring or summer .
And if that happens , Fauci anticipates , `` we could really turn this thing around '' toward the end of 2021 .
In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday on Morning Edition , NPR 's Rachel Martin asked Fauci how many Americans need to receive the vaccine to have an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I would say 50 % would have to get vaccinated before you start to see an impact , '' Fauci said .
`` But I would say 75 to 85 % would have to get vaccinated if you want to have that blanket of herd immunity . ''
Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to the disease that the spread of the virus from person to person becomes unlikely .
Fauci pointed to polio and measles as examples of herd immunity .
Fauci said if all goes according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or beginning of April more vaccines will be available to the general public .
`` Once we get there , if in the subsequent months , April , May , June , July , we get as many people vaccinated as possible , we could really turn this thing around before we get towards the end of the year , '' Fauci said .
Martin asked Fauci , who has agreed to join President-elect Joe Biden 's administration as chief medical adviser , about his level of optimism regarding the distribution of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
`` Does this feel like the beginning of the end to you ? ''
Martin queried .
`` It does in some respects , '' Fauci said .
`` It 's bittersweet that we have the beginning of what will ultimately be the end game of this pandemic . ''
He pointed to the grim milestone reached on Monday : 300,000 Americans have died due to coronavirus-related complications , far outpacing all other nations .
`` We still have a raging outbreak that we need to get under control , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're administering the vaccine as quickly and as expeditiously as possible , we still have to implement the public health measures to prevent the surges we 're seeing throughout the country . ''
Fauci , director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , reiterated to NPR his plans to publicly take the vaccine when it becomes available to him .
But he has not yet scheduled it .
He noted that by taking the vaccine in front of cameras he might win over skeptical Americans who feel the vaccine is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushed its development .
`` I will get vaccinated myself publicly to essentially put aside the concern that some people have about safety and about whether we went too fast , which we did not , '' Fauci said .
He added that the speed at which the vaccine was developed was due to `` scientific advances '' that allowed it to be developed in months , not years .
In a separate interview with ABC News on Tuesday , Fauci said he believes President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a matter of national security .
`` For security reasons , I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can , '' Fauci said on Good Morning America .
`` You want him fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January , so that would be my strong recommendation . ''

Fauci Predicts U.S. Could See Signs Of Herd Immunity By Late March Or Early April
Enlarge this image toggle caption Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's senior official for infectious diseases, predicts the United States could begin to achieve early stages of herd immunity against the deadly coronavirus by late spring or summer. And if that happens, Fauci anticipates, "we could really turn this thing around" toward the end of 2021.
In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday on Morning Edition, NPR's Rachel Martin asked Fauci how many Americans need to receive the vaccine to have an impact on the number of COVID-19 infections.
"I would say 50% would have to get vaccinated before you start to see an impact," Fauci said. "But I would say 75 to 85% would have to get vaccinated if you want to have that blanket of herd immunity."
Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to the disease that the spread of the virus from person to person becomes unlikely. Fauci pointed to polio and measles as examples of herd immunity.
Fauci said if all goes according to plan, by the end of March or beginning of April more vaccines will be available to the general public.
"Once we get there, if in the subsequent months, April, May, June, July, we get as many people vaccinated as possible, we could really turn this thing around before we get towards the end of the year," Fauci said.
Martin asked Fauci, who has agreed to join President-elect Joe Biden's administration as chief medical adviser, about his level of optimism regarding the distribution of the first round of vaccines across the country this week.
"Does this feel like the beginning of the end to you?" Martin queried.
"It does in some respects," Fauci said. "It's bittersweet that we have the beginning of what will ultimately be the end game of this pandemic."
He pointed to the grim milestone reached on Monday: 300,000 Americans have died due to coronavirus-related complications, far outpacing all other nations.
"We still have a raging outbreak that we need to get under control, so at the same time as we're administering the vaccine as quickly and as expeditiously as possible, we still have to implement the public health measures to prevent the surges we're seeing throughout the country."
Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reiterated to NPR his plans to publicly take the vaccine when it becomes available to him. But he has not yet scheduled it.
He noted that by taking the vaccine in front of cameras he might win over skeptical Americans who feel the vaccine is not safe and dispel misconceptions that researchers rushed its development.
"I will get vaccinated myself publicly to essentially put aside the concern that some people have about safety and about whether we went too fast, which we did not," Fauci said.
He added that the speed at which the vaccine was developed was due to "scientific advances" that allowed it to be developed in months, not years.
In a separate interview with ABC News on Tuesday, Fauci said he believes President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris should receive the vaccine immediately, suggesting it is a matter of national security.
"For security reasons, I really feel strongly that we should get them vaccinated as soon as we possibly can," Fauci said on Good Morning America. "You want him fully protected as he enters into the presidency in January, so that would be my strong recommendation."


npr--2020-12-16--Coronavirus World Map: Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak

Coronavirus World Map : Tracking The Spread Of The Outbreak On Sept. 28 , the world marked a tragic milestone : 1 million deaths from COVID-19 .
That 's according to a tally maintained by Johns Hopkins University .
And public health experts believe the actual toll – the recorded deaths plus the unrecorded deaths – is much higher .
While the number of cases has slowed in many countries that were hit hard early on by coronavirus , the number of new cases continues to increase .
Since early July , new daily cases averaged over 200,000 worldwide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January .
At over 16 million cases , the United States leads the world 's COVID-19 crisis .
In late spring and early summer , new COVID-19 cases were largely driven by cases in the Americas .
While the U.S. has consistently had the most new daily cases of coronavirus in the region , Brazil 's new daily cases increased rapidly between May and August .
However , in September , several countries that had previously flattened their curve saw a resurgence in cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , daily case counts have risen swiftly since June .
Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time .
The first chart compares each continent to each other , while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region .
To compare country outbreaks , the chart below graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each country 's totals to date .
This type of visualization highlights a state 's daily growth or decline relative to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In countries like Israel , which is seeing a second wave of case growth after an initial wave in April , the line forms a V-shape , as the initially bent curve spikes upwards again .
Click here to see the state-by-state breakdown of cases in the United States .
This story was originally published on March 30 , 2020 .

Coronavirus world map: We've now passed the 600 million mark for infections
Editor's note: This page is no longer being updated. The last update was Sept. 5, 2022. For current data about COVID-19 cases and deaths around the world, Johns Hopkins University and Our World in Data are useful resources.
In late January 2020 only a few dozen COVID-19 infections had been identified outside of China. A year later, the world tallied its first 100 million cases. It took the globe just 7 more months to pass the 200 million mark— then another 5 months to hit 300 million, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Now the virus has spread to every corner of the globe and has been blamed for more than 6 million deaths.
The United States, India and Brazil in that order have had the most COVID cases and the three nations collectively account for almost half of all recorded infections so far in the pandemic.
Explore the chart below to find a country-by-country breakdown of new and total cases since January 2020.
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Explore how the number of coronavirus cases have shifted in different parts of the world over time. The first chart compares each continent to each other, while the next charts highlight the number of cases in select countries by region.
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This story was originally published on March 30, 2020.


npr--2020-12-16--Coronavirus Is Surging: How Severe Is Your State's Outbreak?

Coronavirus Is Surging : How Severe Is Your State 's Outbreak ?
More than 16 million people in the U.S. have had confirmed coronavirus infections and more than 300,000 have died of COVID-19 .
Tens of thousands of new cases are reported daily nationwide .
In the graphics below , explore the trends in your state .
View the data via a heat map ( immediately below ) , curve charts , a table of state-by-state trends over four weeks , or a map of total cases and deaths .
The map above shows the risk of infection in each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capita .
The consortium of researchers and public health experts who developed these risk levels advises states in the red category to issue stay-home orders .
They advise orange states to consider stay-home orders , along with increased testing and contact tracing .
Yellow states need to keep up social distancing and mask usage , and all states should continue testing and contact tracing .
To compare state outbreaks , the chart above graphs trend lines for average new daily cases and deaths against each state 's totals to date .
This type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growth or decline relative to the overall size of its outbreak .
When both new and total case and death counts grow quickly , the curves bend upward .
As new cases and deaths slow , the curves level or bend down .
In New York , the curve rose sharply before reaching over 170,000 total cases in April .
New cases fell from about 10,000 per day in mid-April to under 900 a day most of the summer , before starting to rise in the fall .
Explore the map above to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country for both new confirmed cases and reported deaths from COVID-19 .
New York was the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S. As of mid October , California , Florida and Texas surpass New York for total cases to date , though New York still has the highest death total .
Click here to see a global map of confirmed cases and deaths .
To show trends , the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state , week over week for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of red have growing outbreaks ; those in shades of green , are declining .
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources , including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ; the World Health Organization ; national , state and local government health departments ; 1point3acres ; and local media reports .
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies .
This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and updates its feeds .
State-by-state recovery data are unavailable at this time .
There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department 's website .
Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships .
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases and or update their methodologies .
For example , in early June , Michigan health authorities started including probable cases in its totals .
This resulted in a brief spike in the state 's daily numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconcile the historical data .
On June 25 , New Jersey included 1,854 previously-unreported probable deaths in its totals , resulting in a spike in the state 's daily death numbers .
On Sept. 2 , Massachusetts changed its methodology for counting probable cases , which lowered its overall case and death numbers .
The JHU team maintains a list of such changes .
This story was originally published on March 16 , 2020 .
Elena Renken was a co-author on that version .
Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Tracking the coronavirus around the U.S.: See how your state is doing
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Note: This page was last updated on Feb. 1, 2023. It will no longer be updated. For current data on COVID cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Feb. 1, there have been more than 101 million confirmed coronavirus infections in the U.S. and more than 1 million people have died of COVID-19. In the graphics below, explore the trends in your state.
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The above charts show average new cases per 100,000 people for each state over the last 12 months.
Note: Actual cases may be substantially higher, since many who test positive with at-home tests don't report their cases.
For additional data about COVID-19 in the U.S, including cases and deaths, demographics, and hospitalizations, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To show trends, the table below shows the change in average new cases per day in each state, week over week for the last 28 days. States marked in shades of red have growing outbreaks; those in shades of green, are declining.
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Methodology
The graphics on this page pull from data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University from several sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the World Health Organization; national, state and local government health departments; 1point3acres; and local media reports.
The JHU team automates its data uploads and regularly checks them for anomalies. This may result in occasional data discrepancies on this page as the JHU team resolves anomalies and updates its feeds. There may be discrepancies between what you see here and what you see on your local health department's website. Figures shown do not include cases on cruise ships.
Fluctuations in the numbers may happen as health authorities review old cases, process testing backlogs or update their methodologies. The JHU team maintains a list of such changes.
This story was originally published on March 16, 2020. Elena Renken was a co-author on that version. Sean McMinn and Audrey Carlsen contributed to this story. Carmel Wroth edited this story.


npr--2020-12-16--China Has A Theory About Its New COVID Cases. Many Scientists Are Skeptical

China Has A Theory About Its New COVID Cases .
Many Scientists Are Skeptical China now reports few to none domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases — only 12 cases were reported on December 15 .
But a flurry of recent cases has Chinese public health officials worried .
They claim that the cases stemmed from workers who had contact with imported food and packages .
Beijing has now banned nearly 100 suppliers from 20 countries and at one point recommended travel restrictions in at least two cities where frozen food handlers contracted the coronavirus .
There 's a problem with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health guidance , which says such transmission is highly unlikely .
Emanuel Goldman , a microbiologist at Rutgers University 's New Jersey Medical School , wrote in the Lancet this summer that `` the chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is very small , '' adding that objects not `` in contact with an infected carrier for many hours do not pose a measurable risk of transmission in non-hospital settings . ''
Since then , Goldman told NPR that more research have come out to corroborate his claim .
So , what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know about the subject of transmission via fomites – objects contaminated with viral particles .
Is it possible to contract COVID-19 from touching food packaging ?
`` There is a theoretical possibility of catching the virus that way , '' says Professor Goldman of Rutgers .
`` It 's not impossible . ''
But he emphasizes , `` it 's unlikely . ''
`` I think most scientists would agree with that , '' he says .
Why so unlikely ?
First , you 'd have to touch a freshly contaminated surface , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Or food packaging .
Then , `` you have to touch your face '' without having washed your hands .
And specifically , the mouth , nostrils or eyes – the entry points for the virus .
The World Health Organization uses the phrase `` highly unlikely '' to describe the chances of contamination from food packaging – but with an abundance of caution urges that the food industry `` reinforce personal hygiene measures '' for employees .
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is a `` very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foods .
But it does n't agree 100 % .
China 's CDC claims that it has identified one case in which live viruses were carried into China via the cold surfaces of imported items and later infected workers .
The organization warned workers handling foods stored in refrigerated conditions that they are at `` a relatively high risk '' of getting the coronavirus and should increase awareness of protection .
[ maybe increase their efforts to protect themselves ? ]
What 's the science behind China 's claim that people have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
China has reported at least four clusters of cases since this summer that they attribute to virus-contaminated objects that have traveled from virus-stricken countries and regions .
In November , Shanghai health authorities stated that seven cases were linked to the city 's Pudong International Airport .
They claim the source is a shipping container from North America , which two of the seven patients entered to clean without masks .
The other five infected individuals include those who also worked in the airport freight section as well as their spouses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two new COVID patients earlier that same month .
A Tianjin CDC official , Zhang Ying , said both individuals , a warehouse loader and a truck driver , had been in physical contact with a shipment of hog heads from North America .
According to CCTV footage , officials said the truck driver , not wearing any personal protective equipment , picked up a hog head when it fell out of the warehouse .
The frozen meat and its package have yet to be tested to this day ; but Zhang said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pig head fell on the ground came back positive for the coronavirus .
They was also a genetic match to the samples taken from the two patients .
The biggest cluster of cases that Chinese researchers are linking to fomite transmission came in June .
Over 300 people connected to the Xinfadi Agricultural Wholesale Market , a sprawling facility that supplies 90 percent of all fruits and vegetables in Beijing , became ill. Investigators took 1,900 samples from various places in the market .
They reported that around 40 came back positive for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cutting board used to chop salmon .
Overnight , salmon of all sorts was dumped from supermarkets and restaurants out of fear that consuming salmon may lead to infection — despite expert guidance that salmon can not be infected and then pass the virus on to humans who eat its meat .
The exact origin of the Xinfadi cluster is still unclear .
But a team of Chinese researchers from Tsinghua University , the Beijing CDC , and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences jointly published a study in October , positing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this particular strain of the virus has European origins .
They concluded that the source of the Xinfadi cases was likely `` imported food via cold-chain logistics . ''
And while the same researchers concede that it is not clear if the amount of virus found in the sample from the salmon cutting board was enough to infect a person , `` the risk from food and environment contamination exists . ''
Professor Goldman of Rutgers is n't convinced .
He points out that the Xinfadi study found only viral RNA , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would only indicate that the coronavirus was present on the surface some time prior to testing .
A test for live viruses , on the other hand , would strengthen the case for fomite transmission .
`` The virus is fragile .
It does not survive very well outside the human body , '' Goldman explains .
`` Without a test for infectious virus , it does n't really tell you anything . ''
But in one instance , the Chinese CDC claimed to have done precisely that .
A small cluster of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city of Qingdao in early October .
Health officials traced the source to two dock workers being treated at a local hospital for the virus after unloading frozen imported codfish in September .
Subsequent testing in October by the Chinese CDC found live coronavirus samples on the packaging .
`` Being able to isolate live viruses [ from samples ] this time means there must exist living viruses that spread and infect , '' said Gao Fu , director of the Chinese CDC , during an October 17 press conference .
The following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including Gao , published their findings in Biosafety and Health , a peer-review journal managed by the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention and the Chinese CDC .
421 surface samples were taken for codfish packages : 50 tested positive for viral RNA , and only one later proved to be infectious .
`` I do n't think this changes anything for ordinary folks in the real world , who will not be dealing with imported frozen packaging directly upon receipt of shipment .
All the other tests the Chinese have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packages have been negative for live virus , '' Goldman told NPR after reviewing the article .
`` This paper is kind of like a proof of principle .
Yes , [ fomite transmission ] could happen , but it 's still very rare . ''
What has China done to prevent fomite transmission ?
The State Council has already suspended imports from nearly 100 suppliers in 20 countries where outbreaks were reported among factory workers .
It also issued nation-wide regulations stipulating all imported foods that require cold storage as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the products are unloaded and handled by movers .
All goods must also be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival at the port of entry .
So far , among the 873,475 samples customs officials have swabbed from imported products , 13 have tested positive for viral RNA .
The measures have created private furor among diplomats and importers , who dispute that their food products are spreading coronavirus .
Reuters reported that behind a closed-door WTO meeting in November , China 's major trade partners such as Canada pushed China to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least not without demonstrating a science-based explanation .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it also prodded China on two occasions to match its trade restrictions with an accurate assessment of risk , adding that Beijing 's most recent COVID-19 trade regulations `` are not based on science and threaten to disrupt trade . ''
So far , China has remained steadfast in upholding its policies which it argues are rooted in science and designed to `` protect people 's lives to the maximum extent . ''

China Has A Theory About Its New COVID-19 Cases. Many Scientists Are Skeptical
Enlarge this image toggle caption Zhang Chenlin/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Zhang Chenlin/Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images
China now reports few to none domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases — only 12 cases were reported on Dec. 15.
But a flurry of recent cases has Chinese public health officials worried. They claim that the cases stemmed from workers who had contact with imported food and packages.
Beijing has now banned nearly 100 suppliers from 20 countries and at one point recommended travel restrictions in at least two cities where frozen food handlers contracted the coronavirus.
There's a problem with this theory. The cases directly contradict international health guidance, which says such transmission is highly unlikely. Emanuel Goldman, a microbiologist at Rutgers University's New Jersey Medical School, wrote in the Lancet this summer that "the chance of transmission through inanimate surfaces is very small," adding that objects not "in contact with an infected carrier for many hours do not pose a measurable risk of transmission in non-hospital settings." Since then, Goldman told NPR that more research has come out to corroborate his claim.
What is going on? Here's what we know about the subject of transmission via fomites — objects contaminated with viral particles.
Is it possible to contract COVID-19 from touching food packaging?
"There is a theoretical possibility of catching the virus that way," says Professor Goldman of Rutgers. "It's not impossible."
But, he emphasizes, "It's unlikely."
"I think most scientists would agree with that," he says.
Why so unlikely? First, you'd have to touch a freshly contaminated surface, Goldman explains. Like a doorknob. Or food packaging.
Then, "you have to touch your face" without having washed your hands. And specifically, the mouth, nostrils or eyes — the entry points for the virus.
The World Health Organization uses the phrase "highly unlikely" to describe the chances of contamination from food packaging — but with an abundance of caution urges that the food industry "reinforce personal hygiene measures" for employees.
China concurs.
The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has said there is a "very low risk" of infection from frozen foods.
But it doesn't agree 100%. China's CDC claims that it has identified one case in which live viruses were carried into China via the cold surfaces of imported items and later infected workers. The organization warned workers handling foods stored in refrigerated conditions that they are at "a relatively high risk" of getting the coronavirus and should increase their efforts to protect themselves.
What's the science behind China's claim that people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 by touching contaminated objects?
China has reported at least four clusters of cases since this summer that it attributes to virus-contaminated objects that have traveled from virus-stricken countries and regions.
In November, Shanghai health authorities stated that seven cases were linked to the city's Pudong International Airport. They claim that the source is a shipping container from North America, which two of the seven patients entered to clean without masks. The other five infected individuals include those who also worked in the airport freight section as well as their spouses.
The port city of Tianjin also identified two new COVID-19 patients earlier that same month. A Tianjin CDC official, Zhang Ying, said both individuals, a warehouse loader and a truck driver, had been in physical contact with a shipment of hog heads from North America. According to CCTV footage, officials said the truck driver, not wearing any personal protective equipment, picked up a hog head when it fell out of the warehouse.
The frozen meat and its package have yet to be tested to this day, but Zhang said samples taken from the spot where the pig head fell on the ground came back positive for the coronavirus. There was also a genetic match to the samples taken from the two patients.
The biggest cluster of cases that Chinese researchers are linking to fomite transmission came in June. More than 300 people connected to the Xinfadi Agricultural Wholesale Market, a sprawling facility that supplies 90% of all fruits and vegetables in Beijing, became ill.
Investigators took 1,900 samples from various places in the market. They reported that about 40 came back positive for the coronavirus, including a sample from a cutting board used to chop salmon. Overnight, salmon of all sorts was dumped from supermarkets and restaurants out of fear that consuming salmon may lead to infection — despite expert guidance that salmon cannot be infected and then pass the virus on to humans who eat its meat.
The exact origin of the Xinfadi cluster is still unclear. But a team of Chinese researchers from Tsinghua University, the Beijing CDC, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences jointly published a study in October positing that based on genome sequencing results, this particular strain of the virus has European origins. They concluded that the source of the Xinfadi cases was likely "imported food via cold-chain logistics." And while the same researchers concede that it is not clear whether the amount of virus found in the sample from the salmon cutting board was enough to infect a person, "the risk from food and environment contamination exists."
Goldman isn't convinced. He points out that the Xinfadi study found only viral RNA, or genetic remnants of the virus. That would only indicate that the coronavirus was present on the surface some time prior to testing. A test for live viruses, on the other hand, would strengthen the case for fomite transmission.
"The virus is fragile. It does not survive very well outside the human body," Goldman explains. "Without a test for infectious virus, it doesn't really tell you anything."
But in one instance, the Chinese CDC claimed to have done precisely that. A small cluster of COVID-19 cases was discovered in the port city of Qingdao in early October. Health officials traced the source to two dock workers being treated at a local hospital for the virus after unloading frozen imported codfish in September. Subsequent testing in October by the Chinese CDC found live coronavirus samples on the packaging. "Being able to isolate live viruses [from samples] this time means there must exist living viruses that spread and infect," said Gao Fu, director of the Chinese CDC, during an Oct. 17 press conference.
The following month, a team of researchers, including Gao, published its findings in Biosafety and Health, a peer-review journal managed by the National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention and the Chinese CDC. When 421 surface samples were taken for codfish packages, 50 tested positive for viral RNA, and only one later proved to be infectious.
"I don't think this changes anything for ordinary folks in the real world, who will not be dealing with imported frozen packaging directly upon receipt of shipment. All the other tests the Chinese have done further downstream after receipt of imported packages have been negative for live virus," Goldman told NPR after reviewing the article. "This paper is kind of like a proof of principle. Yes, [fomite transmission] could happen, but it's still very rare."
What has China done to prevent fomite transmission?
The State Council has already suspended imports from nearly 100 suppliers in 20 countries where outbreaks were reported among factory workers. It also issued nationwide regulations stipulating that all imported foods that require cold storage, as well as their storage facilities, be thoroughly disinfected before the products are unloaded and handled by movers. All goods must also be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival at the port of entry.
So far, among the 873,475 samples customs officials have swabbed from imported products, 13 have tested positive for viral RNA.
The measures have created private furor among diplomats and importers, who dispute that their food products are spreading the coronavirus.
Reuters reported that behind a closed-door WTO meeting in November, China's major trade partners such as Canada pushed China to stop its stringent testing regiment, at least not without demonstrating a science-based explanation.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said it also prodded China on two occasions to match its trade restrictions with an accurate assessment of risk, adding that Beijing's most recent COVID-19 trade regulations "are not based on science and threaten to disrupt trade."
So far, China has remained steadfast in upholding its policies, which it argues are rooted in science and designed to "protect people's lives to the maximum extent."
Amy Cheng contributed research from Beijing.