(2020-08-23). Iran registers 2,113 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (MNA) — The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected 2,113 people and claimed 141 lives in Iran in the past 24 hours, a senior health official said.
(2020-08-23). Muharram ceremonies in Shahriar. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 23 (MNA) — People held the mourning ceremonies in the second night of Muharram in Shahriar County with health protocols in place.
(2020-08-23). Russia plans COVID-19 vaccine output at 6 mln doses a month. yenisafak.com Russia expects to produce between 1.5 million and 2 million doses per month of its potential COVID-19 vaccine by the year end, gradually ramping up production to 6 million doses a month, the RIA news agency cited industry minister Denis Manturov as saying on Sunday.Large-scale testing of the vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya institute, is due to start in Russia next week.
(2020-08-22). Global Capitalism, "World Government" and the Corona Crisis. globalresearch.ca The COVID-19 crisis is marked by a public health "emergency" under WHO auspices which is being used as a pretext and a justification to triggering a Worldwide process of economic, social and political restructuring.
(2020-08-22). Does the Face Mask Protect You From Covid? Ask Dr. Anthony Fauci. When He Spoke against the Mask, It Was Categorized as "Fake News" globalresearch.ca Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) described as one of the world's leading experts on infectious diseases was until recently categorically against wearing the face mask. | He offered advice and provided specific …
(2020-08-22). 'A bit like flu': Coronavirus will stay with us 'FOREVER', British scientist says. rt.com 
Covid-19 will stay with humankind "forever in some form or another," a leading British scientist has predicted, advocating regular vaccinations of the population against the deadly disease. | The not-exactly-optimistic prognosis was produced by Sir Mark Walport, a member of the UK government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), on Saturday. | Unlike some other diseases, like smallpox "which could be eradicated by vaccination," Covid-19 is unlikely to be completely destroyed, the scientist told BBC Radio 4. At the same time, "global vaccination" is a must merely to contain the ongoing pandemic, h…
(2020-08-22). Virginia health chief says he will MANDATE coronavirus vaccine, 'strongly opposes' exemptions. rt.com 
Virginia's health commissioner said he will make a coronavirus vaccine legally mandatory for all state residents when one is ready, arguing it will save lives, as critics push back, demanding the right to choose for themselves. | Dr Norman Oliver, who heads up the state's department of health, said he would require all Virginians to get the jab so long as he remains health commissioner when a vaccine is available, "[Covid-19] is…
(2020-08-22). 'DANGEROUS statement': Pelosi slams Trump for tweet claiming 'DEEP STATE' FDA delaying Covid-19 vaccine. rt.com 
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-California) has accused Donald Trump of making a "dangerous statement" by tweeting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has hindered the US' covid-19 response, including the approval of a vaccine. | In a Saturday "The deep state, or whoever, over at the FDA is making it very difficult for dr…
(2020-08-22). Half of Russians don't want to take world's first Covid-19 vaccine — only 42% willing to try Sputnik V. rt.com 
A majority of Russians don't want to be vaccinated against coronavirus, according to a brand-new survey, which showed only 42 percent of the country wants to be immunized with the homegrown 'Sputnik V' formula, unveiled last week. | On August 11, Russia's president Vladimir Putin announced that the country had registered the world's first Covid-19 vaccine. Developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, the vaccine will be available to the general public from January 2021, but is to be offered to teachers and medical workers first. The process of creating the vaccine has bee…
(2020-08-22). Coronavirus testing remains at reduced levels in the US. wsws.org To fully map spread of the pandemic, and contain the disease, the US should be doing 6—10 million tests per day. It currently does about 700,000.
(2020-08-22). US: Top Medical Association Prohibits Use of Hydroxychloroquine. telesurenglish.net The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has revised its guidelines for the use of hydroxychloroquine advising hospitals to stop using the drug to treat COVID-19 patients. | RELATED: | On Friday, the IDSA updated its guidelines on COVID-19 patients, recommending not to use hydroxychloroquine in hospitals by itself or along with the antibiotic azithromycin. The IDSA had previously advised for a limited use of hydroxychloroqu…
(2020-08-22). 'A Vaccine Will Not End the Pandemic on Its Own' WHO Warns. telesurenglish.net World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Friday warned that a COVID-19 vaccine creation does not mean the pandemic will end on its own. | RELATED: | "Although a vaccine will be a vital tool, we know little about the long-term effects it may have," Adhanom said. | Most countries that have reopened their economies are experiencing new outbreaks after a period of little or no transmission. "Thi…
(2020-08-22). First Person: Pakistan health worker commits to polio fight, despite COVID fears. news.un.org Despite suffering the after-effects of the COVID-19 virus, Husna Gul, a staff member with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Pakistan, is committed to ensuring that as many children as possible are vaccinated against the devastating consequences of polio, which can cause muscle-wasting, paralysis and death.
(2020-08-22). Venezuela Receives 73 Tons of Supplies & Equipment from Europe. telesurenglish.net Seventy-three tons of donated supplies Saturday arrived in Caracas, Venezuela, from Europe to assist in the fight against COVID-19. | RELATED: | The shipment includes equipment and supplies such as medicine, vaccines, PPE, water purification equipment and family hygiene kits. | The two flights which came from Madrid, were received by Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister for Europe, Yvan Gil, in the company of Jan Harfst, representative…
(2020-08-22). Cuba's vaccine candidate "Sovereign" is all set to enter clinical trials. peoplesdispatch.org Cuba's vaccine candidate is the first from the Latin America and the Caribbean region and marks a continuation of its pioneering work in combating COVID-19 across the world…
(2020-08-22). Muharram mourning in Semnan. en.mehrnews.com SEMNAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) — Observing health protocols and social distancing due to coronavirus, people of the central Iranian city of Semnan attended the mourning ceremonies for Imam Hussein (PBUH) on the second night of Muharram.
(2020-08-22). Iran COVID-19 update: 126 deaths, 2,028 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry announced 2,028 new cases of infection with the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours, putting the total number of cases in the country at 356,792.
(2020-08-22). Rouhani thanks 'health defenders' on National Doctors Day. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) — President Hassan Rouhani congratulated in a message the National Doctors Day to the "heroes who sacrificed their lives to save others".
(2020-08-22). Hosseini Infants Ceremony marked in Hazrat Masoumeh Mausoleum. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (MNA) — The Hosseini Infancy Ceremony was held at the holy Mausoleum of Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH) on Sat. on Qom province by fully observing of health protocols and guidelines due to the spread of pandemic in the country.
(2020-08-22). Don't Throw Us Under The Bus! SMART 1741 SF School Bus Drivers Fight For Healthcare. indybay.org The San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Vincent Matthews and the SFUSD school board are taking away healthcare benefits from the SMART 1741 school bus drivers and union members protested on 8/20/20…
(2020-08-22). Banks Have Made $18 Billion From 'Paycheck Protection Program' Processing Fees. popularresistance.org Whether or not a sin ≠gle job or com ≠pa ≠ny is saved through the CARES Act's Pay ≠check Pro ≠tec ≠tion Pro ≠gram (PPP), lenders will be paid hun ≠dreds of mil ≠lions of dol ≠lars in tax ≠pay ≠er mon ≠ey. As of mid-July, PPP lenders, includ ≠ing JPMor ≠gan Chase Bank, Bank of Amer ≠i ≠ca and Wells Far ≠go, had racked up $18 bil ≠lion in fees—more than was allo ≠cat ≠ed to oth ≠er pro ≠grams to devel ≠op vac ≠cines, pro ≠vide med ≠ical sup ≠plies and health ser ≠vices, and feed chil ≠dren. Near ≠ly $130 bil ≠lion…
(2020-08-22). COVID-19 Pandemic May Fuel International 'Famine of Biblical Proportions', UN Official Warns. sputniknews.com Prior to the pandemic, the head of UN World Food Programme warned that 2020 would be the worst year since the Second World War because of the severe damage inflicted upon food systems by natural disasters and conflicts.
(2020-08-22). Bismarck, Britain's COVID -19 Crisis and the Failure of the National Health Service. strategic-culture.org The appalling record of Britain's National Health Service in dealing with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic has also revealed the country's false pride, ignorance and arrogance about the NHS in striking contrast with that of Russia and Germany. | It is often commented that after the exhausted and bankrupt British were forced to give up their enormous global empire after World War II, they comforted themselves — very much in the manner of a spoiled and immature child sucking his or her favorite frozen sweet — by assuring each other that they had the most advanced and impressive free health care service…
(2020-08-22). Turkish dentists say visits safe during COVID-19. yenisafak.com Patients can visit dental hospitals or clinics without worry despite the coronavirus pandemic, a Turkish dentist told Anadolu Agency."Under the control of the Turkish Health Ministry, dental clinics and hospitals have taken advanced level of measures against COVID-19," according to Lutfi Ciftci, chief physician at the Bursa Oral and Dental Health Hospital.Ciftci said they took measures against the virus such as taking temperatures of patients at the entrance, asking if they have any symptoms, hanging information brochures on walls as well as informing them to wear masks and using disinfectants regularly."Consider…
(2020-08-22). Philippines reports 4,933 coronavirus infections, 26 deaths. yenisafak.com The Philippines reported 4,933 infections of the new coronavirus on Saturday, the fifth straight day above 4,000, and 26 COVID-19 deaths.In a bulletin, the health ministry said total confirmed cases have increased to 187,249 while confirmed deaths have reached 2,966. The Philippines has the most infections in Southeast Asia, and second-highest number of deaths, behind Indonesia.
(2020-08-22). [Review] Sex and gender: modifiers of health, disease, and medicine. thelancet.com Clinicians can encounter sex and gender disparities in diagnostic and therapeutic responses. These disparities are noted in epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, disease progression, and response to treatment. This Review discusses the fundamental influences of sex and gender as modifiers of the major causes of death and morbidity. We articulate how the genetic, epigenetic, and hormonal influences of biological sex influence physiology and disease, and how the social constructs of gender affect the behaviour of the community, clinicians, and patients in the health-care system and interact with p…
(2020-08-22). [Obituary] William Charles Dement. thelancet.com Founder of sleep medicine. He was born in Wenatchee, WA, USA, on July 29, 1928, and died of cardiovascular disease in Stanford, CA, USA, on June 17, 2020, aged 91 years.
(2020-08-22). [Correspondence] WSO and WHF joint position statement on population-wide prevention strategies. thelancet.com In 2008, Rod Jackson and colleagues1 proposed that prevention strategies for high-risk cardiovascular disease, based on screening individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease, would deliver large benefits for the population. Simon Capewell2 cautioned that these strategies could mislead health professionals and politicians into thinking they can tick the box reading mission accomplished and, with screening completed, cardiovascular disease prevention would be resolved. Both sides of this debate were based on assumptions and therefore did not reach consensus, but the high-risk approach to the prevention of ca…
(2020-08-22). [Clinical Picture] E-cigarette-induced lung disease: from acute to chronic. thelancet.com A 52-year-old man attended our hospital reporting breathlessness on exertion that had been worsening over the past 2 weeks. He had smoked 20 cigarettes a day for the past 40 years. He had no other symptoms—specifically no systemic or gastrointestinal complaints. The patient had tried to quit smoking 4 months earlier and had started vaping: he had been using commercially available e-cigarettes which did not have any Œî9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) added.
(2020-08-22). [Perspectives] Noni MacDonald: inspirational leader in Canadian and global health. thelancet.com It is not easy to pigeon-hole Noni MacDonald, Professor of Pediatrics at Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada. Paediatrician, infectious disease specialist, vaccinologist, founder of a paediatrics journal, the first woman in Canada to become Dean of Medicine, and passionate global health advocate, her career has been long and diverse. "My professional life has all been about confronting health problems. In my view, if you don't do something to solve the problem, you end up being part of the problem", she says.
(2020-08-22). [Editorial] Trump versus Biden: a fight for the health of a nation. thelancet.com With only 73 days until Nov 3, the 2020 presidential election in the US has entered a decisive phase with Democratic candidate Joe Biden's announcement of California Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate. It comes against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic that has revealed a nation of stark inequity, especially in terms of health. Over the past three decades, non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease have been the predominant causes of death and disability in the US.
(2020-08-22). [Articles] The Community-Level Interventions for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) cluster randomised trials in Mozambique, Pakistan, and India: an individual participant-level meta-analysis. thelancet.com The CLIP intervention did not reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. Future community-level interventions should expand the community health worker workforce, assess general (rather than condition-specific) messaging, and include health system strengthening.
(2020-08-21). Headlines for August 21, 2020. democracynow.org Joe Biden Accepts Presidential Nomination, Pledging End to "Season of Darkness", CDC Director: Up to 60 Million U.S. Residents Were Infected with Coronavirus, White House Declares Teachers "Essential Workers" as Unions Threaten Strikes over Coronavirus, Stock Markets Surge Even as 1.1 Million U.S. Workers File New Unemployment Claims, Protesters Call on New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to #MakeBillionairesPay, Postmaster General to Face Congressional Grilling over "Sabotage" of Postal Service, Massive California Wildfires Leave 5 Dead, 700,000 Acres Burned, Steve Bannon Arrested, Charged with Pocketing Private Border W…
(2020-08-21). Federal judge orders second investigation into Virginia immigrant detention center hit by mass outbreak of COVID-19. wsws.org The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found prison staff were refusing to use safety equipment or provide inmates with protection from COVID-19.
(2020-08-21). The Day After Election Day. counterpunch.org 
The view passed down from on high in the U.S. is that elections are the effective and legitimate means of collective decision-making in the realm of the political. Conversely, on matters of war and peace, economic distribution, environmental wellbeing, healthcare, education, housing, and social welfare— the areas where collective outcomes matter, these are either considered
(2020-08-21). How America's Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice. dissidentvoice.org 
Any conditions that compel the teacher to take note of failures rather than of healthy growth give false standards and result in distortion and perversion. — John Dewey,1 Academic Fredrik deBoer has written a book, The Cult of Smart: How Our Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice (All Points Books, 2020), that questions the enormous …
(2020-08-21). Only Medicare For All Can Beat Covid. counterpunch.org 
The horrible irony is that the one candidate, Sanders, who could have done the most good for pandemic victims, lost the race just when he was most needed. Since then his somewhat muted support for Medicare for All and how uniquely helpful it would be at this historic juncture, is dispiriting. The thought that this relative silence originates in a desire not to offend the candidate, Biden, whom he now supports, is downright depressing.
(2020-08-21). The Real Problem With COVID-19 Vaccines. thealtworld.com 
Before even debating the efficacy, safety, and necessity of different vaccines — one must get past the fact that the most corrupt corporations on Earth hold a monopoly over their development (and the profits made from them). | Forbes in their article, " The article would claim: With more th…
(2020-08-21). WHO chief 'hopes' coronavirus pandemic will end in under TWO YEARS. rt.com 
The Covid-19 crisis is unlikely to be over any time soon, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated, in a not very optimistic prognosis, saying he "hopes" it'll be over in less than two years. | Given the developments of modern technology, the Covid-19 pandemic is likely to end faster than the deadly 1918 outbreak of the Spanish flu, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a press conference in Geneva on Friday. However, the world has become significantly more global since then, which gives the coronavirus "a better chance of spreading," he noted. | At the same time, we also have t…
(2020-08-21). MPs slam ministers for paying 'scant regard' to data protection during pandemic. thecanary.co 
The UK's information rights body must act to ensure the government stops "playing fast and loose" with people's health, it has been claimed.A cross-party group of MPs has written to information commissioner Elizabeth Denham raising concerns over the government's approach to data protection and privacy.In a letter, the group accused ministers of paying "scant regard" to both privacy concerns and data protection duties during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.Government "appears unwilling to understand its legal duties": The group accused the government of engaging with private contractors that have "probl…
(2020-08-21). Love in the time of Coronavirus: We are in this together. mronline.org 
In some ways, it is true that we are in this together. We are all facing a global pandemic. We are keeping the most vulnerable among us safe by trying to follow the advice of public health experts. But, when it comes to looking out for one another's best interests, we are not in this …
(2020-08-21). WHO stresses need for quick action amid reports of fresh COVID-19 outbreaks. news.un.org With several countries experiencing fresh COVID-19 outbreaks after periods of little or no transmission, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday highlighted the need for authorities to be able to move quickly to prevent further spread of the disease.
(2020-08-21). The Burden of the Debt: Lessons for Biden Adviser Ted Kaufman. zcomm.org he idea that we would not address pressing needs, like climate change, child care, and health care because we are concerned about the debt burden is close to crazy. As long as the economy is not near its capacity, there is zero reason not to spend to address these priorities…
(2020-08-21). Muharram mourning in Mosalla of Tabriz. en.mehrnews.com TABRIZ, Aug. 22 (MNA) — Observing health protocols and social distancing due to coronavirus, a mourning ceremony for Imam Hussein (PBUH), was held on Friday in the Mosalla of Tabriz concurrent with the start of mourning Islamic month of Muharram.
(2020-08-21). 'Bangladesh needs other testing methods for COVID-19'. yenisafak.com Experts in Bangladesh suggested that alternative testing methods be introduced alongside the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis amid low COVID-19 testing and sample collection, which has raised fears over the further spread of the deadly disease in the country.The time has come for utilizing antibody and antigen testing to detect the coronavirus as a supporting method as such testing involves less effort and is hassle free, they observed.Bangladesh is now the 16th worst affected country in the world in terms of total infections. Meanwhile, there is an over 20% infection rate in dail…
(2020-08-21). Siberian hospital diagnoses Kremlin critic Navalny with metabolic disease. yenisafak.com The head doctor at the Siberian hospital treating Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said on Friday he had been diagnosed with a metabolic disease caused by low blood sugar.Alexander Murakhovsky, the head doctor at the hospital treating Navalny in the city of Omsk, added that traces of industrial chemical substances had been found on the 44-year-old's clothes and fingers.Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, is in a serious condition after drinking tea on Thursday morning that his allies believe was laced with poison.
(2020-08-21). COVID-19 vaccine to seek regulatory review in October. yenisafak.com German-based biotech firm BioNTech announced late Thursday that vaccine candidate for COVID-19 with US drug giant Pfizer was on track for regulatory review as early as October."Assuming clinical success, Pfizer and BioNTech are on track to seek regulatory review of BNT162b2 as early as October 2020," said the company statement."If regulatory authorization or approval is obtained, currently plan to supply up to 100 million doses worldwide by the end of 2020 and approximately 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021," it added.The companies also released additional data from phase 2/3 trial of the BNT162b2 mRNA-based v…
(2020-08-21). Australia: Sharp increase in COVID-19 among Victorian healthcare workers. wsws.org The Victorian Labor government is attempting to downplay the growing number of infected healthcare workers in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city.
(2020-08-21). After Spending Months Denying Need for Testing, Trump Moves to Gut FDA's Oversight Process for Coronavirus Tests. commondreams.org Public health experts on Friday raised alarm over a new policy unveiled by the Health and Human Services Department, blocking the Food and Drug Administration from regulating a number of laboratory tests including those that test for Covid-19. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-08-21). [Letter] Police use of force during street protests: A pressing public mental health concern. thelancet.com Street protests are a common means of civic expression and occur across the globe. In the past few years, millions of citizens have attended street protests worldwide. Sometimes however, street protests can constitute significantly stressful and violent contexts. Research has highlighted the physical health impact of street protests due to clashes between protesters and law enforcement or use of CS gas [1]. In addition, police use of less-lethal weapons, such as rubber pellet launchers, is known to cause severe ocular injuries [2].
