(2020-09-08). Cuba and China's successes against coronavirus face global media blockade. peoplesworld.org 
HAVANA—Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez condemned a media blackout on the country's progress against COVID-19 this weekend. Rodriguez pointed out that while Cuba is the only Latin American country with a vaccine candidate, it suffers a "media blockade" about its achievements. "Cuban scientists share their progress with the world, show protocols against the pandemic and …
(2020-09-08). Headlines for September 8, 2020. democracynow.org Record-Breaking Wildfires and Heat Scorch California, Rochester Protests Continue as Mayor Promises Changes After Police Killing of Daniel Prude, Major Drug Companies Pledge to Not Rush COVID-19 Vaccine as U.S. Cases Top 6.3 Million, India Becomes Second Most Infected Country; Spain First European Country to Surpass 500,000 Cases, Belarusian Opposition Leader Resists Expulsion at Border with Ukraine After Reports of Abduction, Alexei Navalny Out of Induced Coma as He Continues Recovery from Poisoning, Extradition Hearing Resumes for Julian Assange in U.K., Hundreds of Rohingya Refugees Arrive on Dry Land After Mo…
(2020-09-08). Gates Foundation is Also Destabilizing Africa's Food Economy. The Restructuring of Global Food Production. globalresearch.ca The same Gates Foundation which is behind every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic from financing much of the WHO budget, to investing in favored vaccine-makers like Moderna, is engaged in a major project in Africa which is destroying traditional small …
(2020-09-08). Cascading Risks of COVID-19 Resurgence During an Active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season. jamanetwork.com This Viewpoint discusses the prospects for exacerbation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic during hurricane season in the US, and proposes reinforcement of public health measures, clear communication, and learning from each experience to reduce the risks of hurricane-related harms and increases in COVID-19 cases.
(2020-09-08). Chikungunya Virus—Like Particle Vaccine—Reply. jamanetwork.com In Reply We described the results of a phase 2 clinical trial demonstrating the safety, tolerability, and durable immunogenicity of a CHIKV VLP vaccine at 6 chikungunya-endemic sites in the Caribbean. Dr Jaiswal and colleagues highlight the favorable safety profile of the vaccine and inquire as to the reason for the study participant withdrawals described as "investigator or study decision" and requested the genotype-specific neutralization assay results.
(2020-09-08). TB Control Suffers During Pandemic. jamanetwork.com Extraordinary demands during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have diminished efforts to diagnose and treat people with tuberculosis (TB) at half of US public health departments, according to a report by the CDC and the National TB Controllers Association.
(2020-09-08). Chikungunya Virus—Like Particle Vaccine. jamanetwork.com To the Editor The chikungunya virus—like particle (CHIKV VLP) vaccine described in a recent article by Dr Chen and colleagues is one of several chikungunya vaccines that have completed either phase 1 or preclinical phases. The phase 2 randomized clinical trial reported focuses on pertinent clinical questions of safety and tolerability of the vaccine in a chikungunya-endemic area. The trial enrolled healthy adults aged 18 through 60 years who had tested negative for chikungunya virus IgM/IgG and randomized them to receive 20 Œºg of the vaccine or a placebo. Both safety and tolerability were demons…
(2020-09-08). Potential Adverse Financial Implications of the Medicare Merit-Based Incentive Payment System. jamanetwork.com Health care payment design requires careful monitoring and evaluation to understand and avoid unintended adverse consequences. In 2019, US clinicians began to be rewarded or penalized up to 4% of revenue under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Clinicians can choose measures for evaluation from 3 categories: quality, meaningful use, and improvement activities.
(2020-09-08). Reconfiguring Medical Education. jamanetwork.com To the Editor Dr Emanuel's discussion of the inevitable changes to medical education came at a pivotal moment. On March 11, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization. Medical schools scrambled to comply with university mandates to discontinue in-person classes, along with government recommendations for "social distancing." This required the rapid deployment of virtual learning modalities to replace the existing preclinical curriculum.
(2020-09-08). FDA-required tests on puppies slows progress to Covid treatment. nationofchange.org Dosing puppies with drugs designed for humans won't make people safer. In fact, it poses serious risks to human health.
(2020-09-08). Association Between Clinician Health System Affiliation and Outpatient MIPS Performance. jamanetwork.com This study uses data from the Medicare Physician Compare database to assess associations between clinician affiliation with health systems and performance scores and value-based reimbursement under the 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
(2020-09-08). COVID-19 Precautions Helped Limit Cases Linked to Milwaukee Primary. jamanetwork.com High rates of voting by mail and other prevention strategies during Milwaukee's April primary limited the election-related spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a report by CDC and City of Milwaukee Health Department researchers.
(2020-09-08). Patient Social Risk and Physician Performance Scores in the First Year of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. jamanetwork.com This study uses data from the Medicare Physician Compare database to assess associations between patient social risk, defined as dual eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, and physicians' Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data scores, a proxy for patient outcomes and care value.
(2020-09-08). Investments in public health, an investment in safer future, urges Tedros. news.un.org The world must be ready when the next pandemic comes, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has said, urging countries to invest more in public health as part of their efforts to recover from COVID-19.
(2020-09-08). Allocation of COVID-19 Relief Funding to Disproportionately Black Counties. jamanetwork.com This study describes correlations between the dollar amount of relief funding authorized by the US Congress to fund prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to reimburse health care entities for lost revenues, and county-level Black population fraction accounting for county COVID-19 burden, comorbidity, and hospital financial health.
(2020-09-08). Health disaster and class conflict on horizon as millions of students return to US schools. wsws.org Following the Labor Day holiday, the vast majority of schools have now reopened in the US, sending millions of students and educators back into schools and threatening a massive spread of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country.
(2020-09-08). Labor Day Unite Here 2 & SEIU 87 Protest Lyft Union Busting & For Healthcare. indybay.org On Labor Day 2020 September 7, 2020, SEIU Local 87 and Unite Here Local 2 protested union busting by the hotels, Lyft and Giants.
(2020-09-08). Namaki urges for global call to end US illegal sanctions. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) — In a letter to Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Iranian Minister of Health Saeed Namaki called for a global request for an end to the US illegal and unilateral sanctions that endanger global health.
(2020-09-08). Researcher and chef make 'hyperfoods' cookbook with disease-fighting ingredients. imperial.ac.uk An Imperial researcher and a chef have teamed up to create a cookbook of recipes using 'hyperfoods' — ingredients with anti-cancer molecules.
(2020-09-08). Sanders Condemns Trump Effort to Rush COVID Vaccine Before Election. truthout.org After President Donald Trump on Monday suggested a Covid-19 vaccine could be fully developed and put to market "before a very special day" — apparently referring to the November 3 presidential election — Sen. Bernie Sanders warned that Trump's ongoing politicization of the vaccine process threatens to undermine public trust and safety. | "I think you got a president who's losing it, and I think most people are sick and tired of the ranting and the ravings of Donald Trump," the Vermont sena…
(2020-09-08). Erdogan hails dialogue with Iran on region. yenisafak.com The president of Turkey on Tuesday praised his country's dialogue with Iran to find possible solutions to problems in their shared region."Dialogue between Turkey and Iran has played a determinant role in resolving many regional problems," said Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at the sixth meeting of the Turkey-Iran High-Level Cooperation Council."I believe our cooperation will return to its previous levels as the epidemic subsides," Erdogan said at the meeting, which was being held via video link and co-chaired by himself and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.Turkey's Communications Directorate had said in a…
(2020-09-08). The Face of British Trade: Tony Abbott Goes to Blighty. counterpunch.org The question was put by interviewer Kay Burley on Britain's Sky News network to UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. "Is Tony Abbott the right kind of person to represent us — even if he's a homophobic misogynist?" Hancock, while preferring to focus on the former Australia Prime Minister's expertise in trade, also performed something of
(2020-09-08). 'This Is What It Has Come To': Amid Fears of Politicization at FDA, Big Pharma Pledge to 'Stand With Science' Is Met With Skepticism. commondreams.org "It is simply remarkable and beyond dangerous that President Trump has so politicized the vaccine process to the point that drug corporations—the least trusted industry in America—are now the messengers on vaccine safety." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-09-08). Trump, Biden and a Possible October Single-Payer Surprise. commondreams.org National Nurses United (NNU), along with a broader coalition of pro-Medicare for All organizations, rallied outside of the national headquarters of PhRMA in support of Medicare for All. (Photo: NNU/Flickr/cc) | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-09-07). Coronavirus sickens 182 more people in Gaza. yenisafak.com Palestinian health authorities registered 182 additional coronavirus cases in the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday. | In a statement, the Health Ministry said the seaside territory's tally rose to 1,151 cases, including nine deaths, and 89 recoveries. | The ministry renewed its calls on residents to adhere to precautionary measures to stem the infections, especially among children and the elderly. | The Hamas-led government imposed a lockdown in Gaza on Aug. 24 to help curb the outbreak in the blockaded enclave. | *Writing by Mahmoud Barakat…
(2020-09-07). UK navy's flagship aircraft carrier postpones sailing AGAIN after crew members test positive for Covid-19. rt.com 
Britain's flagship aircraft carrier the HMS Queen Elizabeth has postponed its sailing from Portsmouth after several crewmembers tested positive for the coronavirus — the second time the disease has disrupted the vessel's service. | The outbreak was confirmed by the UK's Ministry of Defence on Monday. Several crew members have tested positive for the Covid-19, while another 100 personnel of the 1,000-strong crew have reportedly been sent into quarantine onboard. | "A small number of HMS Queen Elizabeth's personnel have tested positive for Covid during routine preparation for sailing," a Royal Navy spokesp…
(2020-09-07). Access to Covid-19 vaccine means Russia could totally defeat coronavirus by next summer, according to creator of Sputnik V. rt.com 
If mass vaccination goes to plan, Russia will have seen an end to Covid-19 by next summer, says Alexander Gintsburg, the director of Moscow's Gamaleya Center, where the groundbreaking Russian coronavirus vaccine was developed. | Gintsburg believes the world will only be able to defeat the pandemic after mass vaccination, which he thinks can happen within a year. Until then, he predicts that society will be engaged in "constant battles" with the virus. | "We'll only be able to say that the pandemic has receded when we've produced the required amount of vaccine and vaccinated the entire population of our country…
(2020-09-07). It's a lift-off: Russia's 'Sputnik V' Covid-19 vaccine LAUNCHED into public circulation. rt.com 
The first batch of Russia's pioneering coronavirus formula Sputnik V has been approved for public use and has already been placed into circulation, the Ministry of Health in Moscow has announced. | The world's first Covid-19 vaccine, developed by Moscow's Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, "has undergone necessary quality tests" and "has entered civilian circulation," the ministry said in a short statement on Tuesday. | More batches are on their way to be distributed across Russian regions, it added. | The announcement marks another milestone in the development of Gam-COVID-Vac, bett…
(2020-09-07). Sputnik V questions ANSWERED: Head of team financing world's first Covid-19 vaccine explains formula to critics. rt.com 
Since the launch of the Sputnik V vaccine, developed by scientists from Moscow's Gamaleya Center, Russia has seen immense interest and expressions of hope from many countries and has received requests for 1 billion doses. | However, it has also faced criticism and questions from some Western countries and companies, especially those developing their own vaccines—often based on technologies yet to be proven for safety and efficacy, such as mRNA or monkey adenoviral vector-based platforms. Following the publication of the results of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials of Sputnik V in The Lancet, last w…
(2020-09-07). Victoria's health care disaster the result of a privatised system. greenleft.org.au 
(2020-09-07). Vaccine Nationalism, Big Promises and Warped Speed. globalresearch.ca From sneering dismissiveness of the coronavirus as nothing more than a common cold to a grand promise to find a vaccine, President Donald Trump is all promises. "We remain on track to deliver a vaccine before the end of the …
(2020-09-07). US enters new phase of coronavirus pandemic: Report estimates more than 400,000 deaths by January. wsws.org The policy that has been adopted by the Trump administration and the ruling class is "herd immunity"—that is, the abandonment of any organized measures aimed at safeguarding public health.
(2020-09-07). Trump's Eviction Moratorium Falls Too Short. popularresistance.org On Tuesday, when the rent was due once again and as 43 million Americans braced for possible eviction, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a nationwide eviction moratorium that will run from Friday through Dec. 31. | This eviction moratorium, unlike the one under the CARES Act policy that expired in late July, appears to apply to all rental units nationwide. Now, regardless of whether they receive federal funding or financing, landlords may not evict their tenants based on their inability to pay the rent.
(2020-09-07). In Europe, COVID-19 cases surge and deaths mount following end of lockdowns. wsws.org Andrea Ammon, director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, warned that the virus was starting to infect as many people as in March.
(2020-09-07). Italy To Prolong Precautionary Measures Until October. telesurenglish.net Italy's Council of Ministers on Monday passed a decree that prolongs until October several restrictions and precautionary measures against the pandemic. | RELATED: | According to Health Minister Roberto Speranza, masks use in public transportation, commerce, and other public indoor spaces would remain mandatory. The face coverings would be required in outdoor places from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. | Among other measures, the nightclubs…
(2020-09-07). India Becomes the Second-Most COVID-19 Infected Country. telesurenglish.net India surpassed Brazil on Sunday and became the second-most infected country in the world, after the U.S. as the Asian nation reported more than 90.000 new COVID-19 cases. | RELATED: | Authorities recorded 90.802 new contagions for a total of more than 4 million cases. The death toll increased to 71.642 as 1.016 people died on September 6, 2020. | The latest data by the Ministry of Health shows that Maharashtra, Mumbai's financial capital, is the hard…
(2020-09-07). Cuba Has Trained 200 US Doctors. popularresistance.org Cuba's friendship with the people of the US has been longstanding and despite the fact that Washington has maintained a strong economic-financial blockade against that nation for 60 years, the government and its health institutions opened the doors of the prestigious Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) to forge North American doctors to serve back home where they are needed most. | As Cuba's alternate representative to the UN, Ana Silvia Rodríguez Abascal, explained, "the students and graduates belong mainly to marginalized minorities and low-income families, most of whom when they return decide to work in t…
(2020-09-07). Chile: Police Repress March of Health Workers. telesurenglish.net Chile's Military police (Carabineros) this weekend repressed a march promoted by health workers while protests of President Sebastian Piñera's supporters against the plebiscite on the new Constitution happened without interruptions. | RELATED: | With the slogan "no more applause, we want recognition", health professionals demand better salaries, the recognition of their titles in the Health Code, and the reinstatement…
(2020-09-07). UN Forced to Admit Gates-funded Vaccine Is Causing Polio Outbreak in Africa. globalresearch.ca This really should be one of the biggest public health scandals of the decade, but instead it's given little attention — mainly because of the high-profile nature of the people and organisations involved. | *** | The United Nations
(2020-09-07). A doctor went to his own employer for a COVID-19 antibody test. It cost $10,984. nationofchange.org Physicians Premier ER charged Dr. Zachary Sussman's insurance $10,984 for his COVID-19 antibody test even though Sussman worked for the chain and knows the testing materials only cost about $8. Even more surprising: The insurer paid in full.
(2020-09-07). Build a better future with blue skies for all, UN urges, marking first International Day of Clean Air. news.un.org The first International Day of Clean Air for blue skies is being commemorated around the world, on Monday, following the recognition by the United Nations General Assembly of the importance of clean air for the health and day-to-day lives of people.
(2020-09-07). Study Describes Hyperinflammatory Syndrome in COVID-19 Patients. telesurenglish.net Researchers from the Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital (Vatican) and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) discovered the mechanism causing the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) in COVID-19 patients. | RELATED: | The scientists detected the immunological differences between both diseases and their results have already been published in the journal CELL. The MIS-C causes inflammation of the blood vessels and heart and inte…
(2020-09-07). India's COVID-19 Crisis Explodes. peoplesdispatch.org India now has the second highest number of cases at around 4.2 million. The steep rise displays the failure of the government's strategy to handle the disease.
(2020-09-07). Iran registers 2,152 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. en.mehrnews.com TEHRAN, Sep. 07 (MNA) — The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 2,152 COVID-19 infections and 117 deaths due to the disease in the past 24 hours.
(2020-09-07). Russia's 'Sputnik V' Vaccine Among Top Searches From India in August, Google Reveals. sputniknews.com In recent months, US-based search engine giant Google has been sharing details of top searches observed around the world. Between June and August, Google searches have shown topics like Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death and Coronavirus prevention methods trending in India.
(2020-09-07). Low-Alcohol Beer Gains Popularity in UK Amid Increased Health Awareness – Dietitian. sputniknews.com Although an increased demand for alcohol was reported in the early stages of the pandemic lockdown, data compiled by Nielsen showed that Brits drank 1.3 billion litres of alcohol from 23rd of March to 11th of July, numbers down significantly from the 2bn litres consumed in the same period in 2019.
(2020-09-07). Twitter Ridicules UN Chief's Claim That 'Patriarchy' Worsened COVID-19 Pandemic. sputniknews.com UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres claimed that sexism in the design of protective equipment placed women health workers at greater risk of catching the coronavirus, and said economic problems stemming from the pandemic were an opportunity for social justice.
(2020-09-07). First Batch of Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 Vaccine Released Into Public Circulation. sputniknews.com On 11 August, the world's first vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus 'Sputnik V' was registered by the Russian government, developed by the Gamaleya National Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
(2020-09-07). Schools across UK hit with Covid-19 cases as thousands of pupils return to class. thecanary.co A number of schools across the UK have been hit with coronavirus cases since pupils returned to class. | One secondary school in Suffolk closed its doors just days after reopening, while whole classes at two schools in Wales have been told to self-isolate for two weeks following confirmed cases of Covid-19. | It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that young people under-25 — particularly those aged 17-21 — have helped propel the rise in positive coronavirus cases across the country in recent days. | Schools in England and Wales began reopening to all year groups last week for the first ti…
(2020-09-07). COVID-19 cases near 1.3M in Africa. yenisafak.com The number of people who have contracted the novel coronavirus in Africa has reached 1.29 million, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday. | At least 31,283 people have died of the virus across the continent, while over a million patients have recovered, it said in its daily update. | South Africa, the hardest-hit African country, recorded 1,633 new virus infections on Sunday, bringing the nationwide caseload to 638,517, the health minister announced. | Zweli Mkhize said the nation also registered 110 new virus-related deaths, pushing the tally to 14,889. | Last week, John Nkengasong…
