How Covid-19 Might Spread to You

[S Landreth]

• New study reveals why your home is a hotspot for COVID-19

Crowded indoor spaces, including private households, are vulnerable to a particularly high level of COVID-19 transmission, a new study found.

Published Monday in the JAMA Medical Journal, a comprehensive analysis of 54 individual studies featuring a total of 77,758 participants observed COVID-19 transmission from one person to another in a shared household was 16.6 percent — higher than comparable coronaviruses like MERS and SARS.

It also confirmed that household transmission rates could stay high even in areas where broader community transmission rates were low.

“The findings of this study suggest that given that individuals with suspected or confirmed infections are being referred to isolate at home, households will continue to be a significant venue for transmission of SARS-CoV-2,” the authors wrote.

Researchers also noted that virus transmission within households was higher with patients who were symptomatic than patients who were asymptomatic.

Spread within households was also higher between infected adults than in children, as well as between spouses rather than other family contacts.

COVID-19 infections flourishing in households could be due to a number of factors, namely close contact with others in an environment with circulated air. However, scientists note that it could also be attributed to structural differences in the COVID-19 spike protein and higher viral loads in the nose and throat upon symptom onset.

Additionally, some COVID-19 infections tend to be mild and do not require hospitalization — making it easier to spread between people in a shared space.

"This is yet another study that reminds us of how contagious the virus that causes Covid-19 is, and how hard it is to keep from infecting others if one lives in crowded, multigenerational housing," CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and visiting professor at George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, commented.

Wen was not involved in the study.: https://thehill.com/changing-america...-a-hotspot-for

• Coronavirus Cases: 73,265,097

Deaths: 1,629,949

Underreported US death count: 308,091

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - Covid-19 second wave to hit year-end spending by Bt16 billion, economist warns

The second wave of the Covid-19 outbreak will cost local tourism around Bt16 billion during the New Year holidays, says an economist.

Anusorn Tamajai, former dean at Rangsit University’s Faculty of Economics, estimated that the second wave of Covid-19 infections would cost the local tourism industry Bt14.1 to Bt16.9 billion in lost revenue during the New Year festival.

His analysis comes amid rising cases of local infections after some infected patients entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar. While the United States has the most number of cases with over 16.5 million, followed by India -- almost 10 million -- Thailand ranks 151st among countries with over 4,000 cases.

He was optimistic that the number of new cases in Thailand would be contained as the government had put in place an effective tracing system. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier insisted that Thailand had not yet experienced a second wave. Anusorn, however, said that concerns over the rising number of new cases was expected to discourage many people from travelling and spending during the year-end holiday season.

Revenue from Thai travellers during the last New Year was Bt28 billion. Many research houses have estimated that Thai consumers will cut their spending significantly while those who live in Bangkok are expected to spend about Bt30 billion, but it is below the average spending of the past two decades, he said.

Anusorn, however, added that if Thailand could not contain the second wave the Thai economy next year may grow less than 4 per cent, while the rising number of new cases in Thailand’s trading partner countries would adversely affect Thai exports up to the first quarter of next year.

The National Economic and Social Development Council has forecast that the Thai economy will expand 4 to 5 per cent next year.

Regarding financial markets, Anusorn predicted that gold price would test a barrier at US$2,000 per ounce, as investors are worried about risk assets stemming from the delay in the US stimulus package and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

In the short run, gold price next week may move up to $1,845 to 1,850 per ounce, he said, while gold bar in Thailand may rise to Bt26,150 to 26,600 per baht weight.

The Thai baht is expected to appreciate further after it rose almost 4 per cent last month. The baht could rise to Bt29.50 per dollar by the end of this year, strengthening from the Bt30 level, he predicted. Foreign investors had net buys of Thai stocks worth Bt50 billion over one month and bonds worth Bt20 billion. They could sell Thai financial assets to make a profit before Christmas, he warned.

Meanwhile, the rising unemployed benefit claims in the US had put high pressure on the dollar, he said.

The US economy has shown signs of decelerating at the end of this year. The return of the global economy to normal next year would depend on the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccines, he said.

He did not expect the US Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan to further loosen monetary policies during their meeting next week.: https://www.nationthailand.com/busin...ernal_referral

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

FDA grants emergency authorization to over-the-counter, at-home COVID test

The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization Tuesday to Ellume's over-the-counter antigen COVID-19 test for fully at-home use.

Why it matters: Once available, a person in theory would be able to buy the test in a drug store, swab their nose, and run the test for results in about 20 minutes.

• The company anticipates selling the test at about $30 or less. Ellume's goal is to produce 3 million tests by January and to deliver 20 million tests by the first of half of next year.

The big picture: Currently, home kits that test for the novel coronavirus either still need a prescription or require swabs be shipped to a lab, which could take days for results.

How it works: The rapid test can be used by symptomatic and asymptomatic users ages 2 years and above. This type of test detects fragments of proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus from a nasal swab sample.

• A clinical study demonstrated overall sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 97%, according to Ellume.

Yes, but: Like all other antigen tests, "a small percentage of positive and negative results from this test may be false," the FDA notes.

• "Patients without symptoms, positive results should be treated as presumptively positive until confirmed by another test as soon as possible.": https://www.axios.com/fda-emergency-...350c57ee2.html

• Coronavirus Cases: 73,541,759

Deaths: 1,635,421

Underreported US death count: 309,101

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[S Landreth]

COVID Vaccine Won't Reach All the World's People Until 2022

Amid hopes stirred by the recent rollout of an approved COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, a new study warns that shots may not be available to nearly one-quarter of the world's people until 2022.

A second study estimates that 3.7 billion adults worldwide are willing to get the vaccine.

Together, these two findings suggest that getting people immunized could be as big a challenge as developing vaccines, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

"High-income countries have secured future supplies of COVID-19 vaccines, but that access for the rest of the world is uncertain," according to the researchers. "Governments and manufacturers might provide much needed assurances for equitable allocation of COVID-19 vaccines through greater transparency and accountability over these arrangements."

The first study reported that, as of Nov. 15, several countries had reserved 7.48 billion doses (or 3.76 billion courses) of vaccines being tested by 13 manufacturers.

The authors said that 51% of the doses were headed to wealthy countries, which have 14% of the world's population. Low- and middle-income countries -- home to more than 85% of the global population -- would potentially have access to the remaining doses, according to the report published online Dec. 15 in The BMJ.

In a best-case scenario, total projected manufacturing capacity would be 5.96 billion courses of vaccine by the end of 2021, with prices ranging from $6 to $74 per course, the researchers said in a journal news release.

Dr. Anthony So, of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, led the study.

His team said up to 40% of available vaccine courses might remain for low- and middle-income countries, but that would partly depend on how wealthy nations share what they have access to. It would also hinge on whether the United States and Russia take part in internationally coordinated efforts.

Even if all vaccine manufacturers achieve maximum production capacity, at least one-fifth of the world's population would not have access to vaccines until 2022, the researchers said.

The second study, published in the same issue of the journal, found that 68% of adults worldwide (3.7 billion) are willing to get a COVID-19 shot.

"Variations in the size of the target populations within and between regions emphasize the tenuous balance between vaccine demand and supply, especially in low- and middle-income countries without sufficient capacity to meet domestic demand for COVID-19 vaccine," according to the team led by Hongjie Yu, of Fudan University in Shanghai, China.

Jason Schwartz, an assistant professor of public health at Yale University in New Haven, Conn., wrote an editorial that accompanied the findings.

While many countries have already committed to ensuring equal worldwide access to COVID-19 vaccines, Schwartz emphasized that vigilance is required "to ensure that such aspirations are realized in the months and years ahead."

Schwartz said successful, equitable implementation of the vaccines "requires unprecedented global coordination and a sustained commitment of resources -- financial, logistical, and technical -- from high-income countries.": https://consumer.healthday.com/b-12-...649482173.html

• Coronavirus Cases: 74,126,584

Deaths: 1,648,147

Underreported US death count: 311,848

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - Samut Sakhon imposes lockdown restrictions after hundreds test positive for Covid-19

The number of people infected with Covid-19 in Samut Sakhon province rose sharply by 548, officials revealed late on Saturday.

After 1,192 foreign workers got tested, 516 were found to be infected, accounting for 43 per cent infection rate.

Meanwhile, 32 more people were found to be infected after many people went to hospitals in the province for testing.

At 9pm on Saturday, Dr Opas Karnkawinpong, director-general of the Disease Control Department, held a press conference along with Pol Maj-General Thana Chuwong, Commander of the provincial Police Region 7, and provincial Governor Veerasak Vichitsaengsri.

The outbreak in the province follows a 67-year-old woman, who ran a prawn shop in a local fish market, testing positive on December 17 after experiencing symptoms on December 13.

Dr Opas said that after the case was detected, the Department of Disease Control, the Ministry of Public Health, together with the Samut Sakhon Provincial Communicable Diseases Committee and agencies in the area conducted hundreds of tests, after which 13 people, both Thais and foreigners, were found to be infected by noon on Saturday.

Further screening of 1,192 migrant workers, showed 516 of them, or 43 per cent, to be infected, Dr Opas said.

He added that the number increased to 548 after people visited hospitals in the province to be examined.

More than 90 per cent of the new cases were asymptomatic or have very few symptoms and most of them are foreign workers, he said.

After an assessment of the public health situation, Dr Opas said he believed the local health office would be able to cope with the situation through the cooperation of the people since most of the spread has occurred in a limited area without any severe cases. He said that although there was an increase among migrant communities surrounding the fish market, where they lived in crowded conditions, the group was at low risk of getting serious illness as they were in the working age group with strong health.

Governor Veerasak has decided to impose strict measures in the affected areas to control the spread of the disease for 14 days, from December 19 to January 3. Gambling establishments, tutoring institutes, sports schools and nurseries will be closed. Malls and convenience stores can open at restricted hours. They must not operate from 10pm to 5am. Fresh markets can open for six hours a day.: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/...ernal_referral

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - Samut Sakhon to suffer huge financial losses

The lockdown of Samut Sakhon due to a new surge in Covid-19 infections will cause about 1 billion baht a day in economic damage, says Amphai Harnkraiwilai, chairwoman of the Samut Sakhon Chamber of Commerce.

She said the province's seafood industry with sales amounting to 400 to 500 million baht a day, as well as other related businesses, have now been forced to stop as a result of the lockdown.

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"This could cause estimated economic damage of about 1 billion baht a day," she said.

However, major damage will be limited only to businesses that employ migrant workers while there will be little impact on businesses that do not hire them, Ms Amphai said.

"Initially, local businesses have agreed to comply with disease control measures fully and screen migrant workers to prevent the spread of the virus to other areas," Ms Amphai said.

"Regarding remedial measures to help other operators who are not in the infection zone and have been affected by the lockdown, the provincial chamber of commerce will raise the issue with the Thai Chamber of Commerce which will then forward the matter to the government," she said.

Commercial and state-run banks announced the closure of their branches in Samut Sakhon in the wake of the lockdown effective from Saturday until Jan 3. Bank branches in shopping malls were also closed.

Amporn Pinasa, secretary-general of the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec), said that she has ordered the closure of schools under the supervision of the Obec in Samut Sakhon and for Obec officials there to work from home.

"The Obec will assess the situation based on the announcements from the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). All schools have been instructed to comply with health safety measures from the Public Health Ministry," Ms Amporn said.

Several schools in Bangkok were also closed yesterday out of fears of new Covid-19 cases including an infected woman who lives on Pracha Chuen Road in the capital.

The woman reportedly went to Talad Mahachai in Samut Sakhon to buy seafood early this month.

Bangkok Christian College announced the school's closure from today until Jan 3, while Wattana Wittaya Academy will close from today until Jan 3 and reopen on Jan 4.

Assumption College Thon Buri announced that students and personnel who live in Samut Sakhon are allowed to stay home from today and return to school on Jan 4.

Joseph Upatham School in Nakhon Pathom also announced the suspension of class from today and will reopen on Jan 4.

Meanwhile, the Samut Songkhram governor, with the consent of the provincial chamber of commerce, on Sunday ordered the cancellation of the last day of the Mackerel Eating and Mae Klong Famous Products Festival out of fears of the spread of Covid-19 from neighbouring Samut Sakhon.

The festival was originally scheduled to run from Dec 10 to Sunday.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...nancial-losses

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[Plan C]

Do you lick your padded cell windows before or after each post?

[S Landreth]

FDA review confirms Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective

The Food and Drug Administration released detailed data on Tuesday showing Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and "highly effective" in preventing cases of the virus in adults.

Why it matters: It clears the way for the emergency authorization of a second coronavirus vaccine in the U.S. as soon as this week, making inoculation available to millions more Americans.

• The review confirmed Moderna's claim that the vaccine had a 94.1% efficacy rate in a trial of 30,000 people, with the FDA describing the recommended two-dose regimen as "highly effective" in preventing infection 14 days after the second dose.
• The most common side effects included fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and joint pain — but none were deemed dangerous, per the agency.

What's next: An FDA advisory panel will meet on Thursday to review the data and vote on whether to recommend emergency authorization.

Officials said Monday they are prepared to ship out just under 6 million doses when the authorization is granted, more than double the 2.9 million doses of Pfizer's vaccine that the U.S. initially prepared to be shipped out this week.

This summer, Moderna struck an agreement with the federal government's Operation Warp Speed to provide 100 million doses if the vaccine proved to be safe and effective. The Trump administration purchased 100 million more Moderna doses last week to ensure "continuous delivery through the end of June 2021.": https://www.axios.com/fda-review-mod...dc98cd7f7.html
FDA Takes Additional Action in Fight Against COVID-19 By Issuing Emergency Use Authorization for Second COVID-19 Vaccine

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the second vaccine for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The emergency use authorization allows the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to be distributed in the U.S. for use in individuals 18 years of age and older.: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/pres...n-second-covid

• Coronavirus Cases: 76,103,277

Deaths: 1,683,314

Underreported US death count: 320,845

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[S Landreth]

Thailand to vaccinate half of its population in 2021

The kingdom has a deal with AstraZeneca but is also talking to Chinese, Russian and Indian suppliers

Thailand aims to vaccinate up to half of its population against Covid-19 next year and as many as 70 per cent by 2022, which would be enough to achieve “herd immunity” against the disease, the director of its National Vaccine Institute told the Financial Times.

The kingdom last month signed a deal with AstraZeneca to produce in Thailand 26m doses of the coronavirus vaccine it developed with Oxford university. That would be sufficient to vaccinate 13m people, or about 20 per cent of its 69m population.

However, Nakorn Premsri told the FT that Thailand was also in talks with other parties, including producers in China, Russia and India, for the possible import of other vaccines.

“Let’s say that by 2021 we would expect around a maximum of 50 per cent of the population to be vaccinated,” Dr Nakorn said. “Meaning that we need to . . . secure more doses of the vaccine.”

He said government officials needed to take into account “dynamic information”, including the results of clinical trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca and other vaccines, as well as the risks of deploying more than one vaccine as part of its national immunisation programme.

The official said that only the target of vaccinating 50 per cent of the population had been decided so far. However, “theoretically, if we would like to protect the people, we should aim for 70 per cent” of the population having been vaccinated by the second year of the programme.

Dr Nakorn’s comments are among the clearest indications yet of the Thai government’s strategy and timetable for vaccinating its population.

He spoke to the FT before Thailand reported over the weekend hundreds of new Covid-19 cases in Samut Sakhon province, south-west of Bangkok, a hub for the seafood industry. The kingdom had previously been one of the world's most effective countries in containing local coronavirus infections. The spike in cases has alarmed authorities, which ordered the province closed until January 3 and put under a night-time curfew.

Siam Bioscience, owned by the Crown Property Bureau, the wealth fund controlled by Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn, will produce the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine under its technology transfer agreement with the drugmaker.

Dr Nakorn said Thailand wanted to manufacture vaccines locally as a matter of “national security”.

“We think that we will face other emerging infectious diseases someday in the future,” he said. “Covid-19 will not be the last one.”

The official said that he understood the company had already begun production of the vaccine, and that production would take about four to five months, allowing vaccinations to begin by July. Siam Bioscience declined an interview request.

Dr Nakorn said that an expert working group would probably decide by January who should receive the vaccine first. Elderly people, frontline healthcare and social workers, and people with comorbidities that put them at higher risk of infection would probably be given first priority.

He also said that, while a final decision had not been made, members of Thailand's large foreign community would also be eligible to receive vaccines.: https://www.ft.com/content/c21638e3-...1-6c2ff49f784d

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

• New virus strain found in Australia for first time

Health officials in Australia said Monday that they had confirmed two cases of a new strain of COVID-19 that spreads faster than its previous mutations.

Reuters reported that the chief health officer for New South Wales, Kerry Chant, confirmed six new cases of COVID-19 across the state on Monday, including two that were believed to be the new, fast-spreading strain that forced British authorities to shut down the Christmas shopping season this weekend.

Officials confirmed "a couple of U.K. returned travelers with the particular mutations,” Chant said, adding that no cases are thought to be circulating in the community.

“Everyone coming from the U.K. is going into 14 days of hotel quarantine and they are of no risk, as that quarantine works so successfully,” added Australia's acting top health official, Paul Kelly.

News of the strain's arrival in Australia comes just two days after U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned residents of the dangers presented by the new strain and implemented measures shutting down businesses and restricting gatherings.

Vivek Murphy, who was nominated to retake his old position as surgeon general by President-elect Joe Biden, said on Sunday's "Meet the Press" on NBC that there is no evidence yet that the new strain of COVID-19 is more deadly than previous iterations.

“This news from the U.K. appears to be about a new strain of the virus that’s more transmissible, more contagious than the virus we’ve seen prior to this,” he said. “While it seems to be more transmissible, we do not have evidence yet that this is a more deadly virus to an individual who acquires it.”: https://thehill.com/policy/internati...d-in-australia

• Coronavirus Cases: 77,274,532

Deaths: 1,701,829

Underreported US death count: 324,869

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[KrisMoone]

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[S Landreth]

Hundreds of Thai workers found dying in S. Korea

The deaths of hundreds of mainly undocumented Thai migrant workers in South Korea have been uncovered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, prompting the United Nations to call for inquiry into the fate of migrants known as "little ghosts".

At least 522 Thais have died in South Korea since 2015 – 84% of whom were undocumented – according to data from the Thai embassy in Seoul obtained via a freedom of information (FOI) request.

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Four in 10 deaths were recorded as due to unknown causes while others were health-related, accidents and suicides.

The number of worker deaths hit a record annual high this year – 122 as of mid-December – according to the newly-revealed data from the Thai embassy, amid growing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on labour conditions.

More Thais died in South Korea – 283 – than any other foreign country between 2015 and 2018, according to data obtained via a separate FOI request to the Foreign Ministry. Statistics were not available for 2019 and 2020.

"(The data) is concerning and requires attention and investigation," said Nilim Baruah, a specialist on labour migration at the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).

"Undocumented migrant workers are the least protected and their health and safety are a concern."

Current and former migrant workers, campaigners and Thai officials said tens of thousands of undocumented migrants in South Korea were overworked, unable to access healthcare, and unlikely to report exploitation for fear of being deported.

Data on migrant deaths is not made public by either government so there is little attention on labour conditions or scope to improve the situation at a time when the fallout from Covid-19 has left more foreign workers at risk, activists said.

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) said it was "concerned" about the data uncovered by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and was monitoring the situation.

The South Korea ministries for labour, justice and foreign affairs declined to comment on the data. The South Korean embassy in Bangkok did not respond to request for comment.

At least 460,000 Thais work abroad, legally and illegally, data from the Foreign Ministry shows. South Korea is the top destination, home to about 185,000 Thai migrants who can earn significantly more than they would receive in Thailand.

While a visa-free travel arrangement between the two nations was established in 1981, labour experts said many Thais migrated for work ahead of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics and ended up staying as undocumented workers at factories and on farms.

Difficult and dirty work

About a tenth of the 185,000 Thai migrants in South Korea work there legally through a labour migration scheme called the employment permit system (EPS), the Thai embassy in Seoul said.

The rest are migrants without legal documentation - called "phi noi" or "little ghosts" in Thai - who pay brokers in Thailand hefty recruitment fees to organise jobs abroad. The payment can include flights and accommodation in South Korea.

These migrants - who become undocumented after overstaying a 90-day limit for visa-free travel for Thais in South Korea - said they could earn at least 1.2 million Korean won (33,000 baht) a month, which is more than triple the minimum wage in Thailand.

Thailand's foreign affairs ministry said its embassies were duty-bound to look after Thai people regardless of their status, but gaining access to undocumented workers was difficult.

The Thai embassy in Seoul compiles data on migrant deaths based on reports from hospitals or police for deaths that occur at work or home. All deaths are followed up with an autopsy but the results are not made public, according to the embassy.

"Many illegal Thai workers die unexpectedly during sleep, likely due to overworking and personal health problems without proper medication," said Bancha Yuenyongchongcharoen, an official at the embassy in Seoul.

"These workers undertake hard and dirty work and do not have access to state healthcare," Mr Bancha said by phone.

The Asian Migrant Workers Center (AMWC) said there were concerns that undocumented workers from other nations such as Nepal, Indonesia and Vietnam were also dying of unknown causes.

"If you have no visa, your access to medical care is cut off and it'll cost you 10 million won (273,000 baht) to go to the hospital and get surgery," said Woo Sam-yeol, manager of the civic group.

"So many undocumented migrants who are ill, including Thais, swallow their pain until it takes a lethal toll on them."

After the death of a Burmese worker in 2018, South Korea's human rights commission made recommendations to the justice ministry on how to stop further deaths, such as taking responsibility for accidents and suspending crackdowns on undocumented workers.

The ministry was responsive to some of the recommendations, saying it would clarify its safety protocol for crackdowns and improve education for officials, according to the commission.

The justice ministry did not provide comment on the commission's recommendations to the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"We are little ghosts"

The Thomson Reuters Foundation spoke to seven current and former undocumented Thai migrant workers in South Korea who described being paid less than the minimum wage and working long days in difficult conditions, ranging from dirty to dangerous.

Nid - who did not give her real name for fear of retribution - was working as a cleaner in a motel in the central city of Cheongju when she fell ill with a fever in July.

Having worked 15-hour shifts with only one day off a month – in violation of Korean labour laws – the 32-year-old said her fevers left her unable to work for almost four months.

"I thought I would go to sleep and never wake up," said Ms Nid, who now works as a masseuse - her tenth job since 2016 when she paid brokers 100,000 baht to find work in South Korea.

Nid said she contacted the Thai embassy in Seoul after falling ill and asked for assistance to return home. She said she was placed on a waiting list, which currently contains about 10,000 Thais in South Korea, according to data from the embassy.

"It's as if they already made a judgment - we are phi noi (little ghosts) and chose to come here illegally, so we have to put up with the situation," she said by phone.

Some organisations, such as the Namyangju City Migrant Welfare Center, provide free healthcare to undocumented migrants but said the coronavirus pandemic had disrupted their services.

"For example, there are many undocumented workers who need medicine for their diabetes, but since we cannot roll out our free services now due to Covid-19, their conditions are worsening," said Lee Young, a priest who works with the group.

In April, South Korean health authorities vowed to fight "quarantine blind spots" by guaranteeing undocumented migrants access to coronavirus testing without fear of repercussions.

South Korea's justice ministry told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that undocumented migrants were able to voluntarily leave the country without any penalties after the onset of the pandemic, but said that the option came to an end in June.

The Thai embassy in Seoul said it had helped at least 10,000 migrants to return to Thailand from South Korea this year

Outside the law

The Thai labour ministry said people who migrate to South Korea through the EPS - and their families - are eligible for government compensation in case of illness or death.

"The problem is most people are illegal workers and are therefore outside the protection of the law," said Suchat Pornchaiwiseskul, head of the ministry's employment department.

The Thai government said it has introduced several measures to prevent its citizens from working illegally abroad in recent years, such as producing educational videos and cracking down on unscrupulous online recruitment websites.

But labour rights campaigners said such measures would not solve the problem of illegal migration and urged the Thai government to make it easier for people to work legally abroad.

"There is stigma associated with irregular migrants, who are not human beings in the eyes of Thai people," said Roisai Wongsuban from The Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery organisation.

"The Thai government does not have an understanding of the importance of making migration safer," the program advisor said.

One former migrant worker – who asked to remain anonymous – said he paid 120,000 baht to a Thai broker in 2014 for a job in South Korea, and ended up working on a pig farm in the southeastern city of Daegu where he was allowed no days off.

When he didn't get paid his salary after three months, the 51-year-old decided to run away. Before leaving, he said he wrote a message in Thai on his bedroom wall to warn others.

"To Thai friends: if you are sent to work here, beware that you won't get paid," it read.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...ing-in-s-korea

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

U.S. plans to study allergic reactions from Pfizer’s Covid vaccine

The U.S. is looking at why a handful of people have suffered from severe allergic reactions shortly after receiving Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine shots, a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases official told CNBC on Monday.

The study – which is still in the early planning phases – is expected to include “several hundred” people who have a history of severe allergic reactions, said Alkis Togias, chief of the NIAID’s Allergy, Asthma, and Airway Biology Branch. His department will lead the study, which researchers hope to begin in a matter of weeks, though the timing isn’t guaranteed. While the reactions have been reported by people who got Pfizer’s shot, the study may look at the vaccines made by both Pfizer and Moderna.

Togias said researchers at the NIAID, an agency within the National Institutes of Health, became interested in the rare phenomenon after reports that a few people had reactions to Pfizer’s vaccine that qualified as anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Just last week, a clinician in Alaska suffered anaphylactic symptoms about 10 minutes after being given Pfizer’s vaccine, becoming the third health-care worker in the state to suffer an adverse reaction to the new drug.

“We are a little bit concerned that people who have had a lot of allergies who have had reactions like this to all kinds of things, not just vaccines, may be afraid to get vaccinated now,” Togias told CNBC. “We just don’t want that to happen. We want to find a way for them to get vaccinated,” he added.

President Donald Trump’s coronavirus vaccine czar, Moncef Slaoui, mentioned the study at an Operation Warp Speed briefing earlier Monday.

“There is now advanced planning for a study in highly allergic individuals in clinical trials to test the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and try to understand the immune mechanisms that are underpinning any reactions,” he said.

The study comes as the federal government begins distributing nearly 8 million doses of Covid vaccine across the nation this week after shipping out 2.9 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine last week. The U.S. is shipping 5.9 million doses of Moderna’s vaccine as well as 2 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said Monday. As of Sunday, 556,208 Americans have gotten shots, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It’s unclear why some people are experiencing allergic reactions are getting the shots.

Both Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines use messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology. It’s a new approach to vaccines that uses genetic material to provoke an immune response against the virus. U.S. health officials say the vaccines are safe, with only 10% to 15% of volunteers in the clinical trials reporting side effects that were “significantly noticeable.”

Fatigue, headaches and muscle pain are the most common side effects from Moderna’s vaccine, along with some rare symptoms such as intractable nausea or vomiting and facial swelling that are likely triggered by the shots, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Some side effects were hard to shake, though most resolved within a week, the FDA said.

Medical experts say allergic reactions from vaccines are rare but can sometimes happen. Still, the FDA said Thursday it was looking into allergic reactions that happened after people were given Pfizer’s vaccine. Doran Fink, deputy director of FDA’s division of vaccines and related products applications, said the agency will consider whether additional recommendations on the vaccines are needed after the investigation.

“At this point, we don’t have enough data to make a definitive recommendation one way or the other, he told the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee during a meeting.

Togias said he hopes the NIAID study will shed some light on the allergic reactions. He said the study may include people who do not suffer from allergic reactions so researchers can make comparisons.

Before researchers can begin the study, the agency will have to come up with a very detailed protocol that will need to be approved by the FDA, Togias said. After it gets an OK from the FDA, it will then need to be looked over and approved by an ethics committee.

“Of course, everybody when they hear a study that relates to the vaccine, we try to be sensitive and move fast,” he said. “But it is not something we can design today and start tomorrow.”: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/21/covi...zer-shots.html

• Coronavirus Cases: 78,475,152

Deaths: 1,726,535

Underreported US death count: 330,824

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.

[S Landreth]

Thailand - 31 provinces now at orange or yellow levels for Covid-19 risk: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/...ernal_referral

Thailand - 64 local infections led by Bangkok among 110 new cases

Bangkok and Phetchaburi led in terms of new local Covid-19 cases on Saturday, with 18 and seven respectively, as 110 cases were added.

Of the new cases, 64 were infected locally, 30 were migrant workers found infected through active case finding in Samut Sakhon, and 16 were arrivals in quarantine from 10 countries, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Of the new local infections, three were Myanmar nationals and the rest were Thais. The cases were found in the capital and 16 provinces, led by Bangkok (18), Phetchaburi (10), Samut Prakan (7), Chai Nat (5), Ratchaburi (4), Nakhon Ratchasima (3) and Rayong (3). (see map below)

Saraburi, Satun, Chachoengsao and Chaiyaphum saw two new cases each while Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Trang, Khon Kaen, Pichit and Songkhla reported one case each.

Of this group, 60 were linked to the Samut Sakhon cluster; three were in contact with previously confirmed cases; and one was under investigation.

Among the 30 new migrant worker cases in Samut Sakhon, more than 90% showed no symptoms, said the CCSA.

The 16 imported cases were from Russia (4), the United States (3), Myanmar (2), India (1), Saudi Arabia (1), Turkey (1), the United Kingdom (1), Mozambique (1), Germany (1) and France (1). Of them, 11 were Thais.

The Disease Control Department held a briefing on Saturday afternoon about a new cluster it had found — a gambling den in Rayong province.

Director Opas Karnkavinpong said nine new cases had been reported from there and the test results of four others had yet to be confirmed, he said.

He pointed out the re-emerging of cases in Thailand since last week previously originated from two clusters.

The first was the central shrimp market in Samut Sakhon where 10,411 people were tested as of Saturday and 1,337 or 12.8% were found to be infected, he said.

The disease then spread from there to 33 nearby provinces, with 234 others infected, such as Bangkok, with an accumulated number of 77, Samut Prakan (18), Nonthaburi (13), Phetchaburi (12), Samut Songkhram (11), Saraburi (8), Krabi (8), Nakhon Pathom (7) and Chachoengsao (7).

The second cluster was linked to a big bike party on Lanta Islands in Krabi province on Dec 9, where 19 people were infected, he said. However, it was under control as the guests had registered before entering.

Of the total 6,020 cases in Thailand to date, 4,152, or 69%, recovered, including 15 discharged from hospitals over the past 24 hours, while 1,808 remain in hospitals. The death toll was unchanged at 60.

Of the accumulative cases, 2,524 were in the Central Plains, 2,402 in Bangkok and Nonthaburi, 762 in the South, 202 in the North and 130 in the Northeast, said the CCSA.

Global Covid-19 cases rose by 472,443 over the previous 24 hours to 80.2 million. The worldwide death toll rose by 8,374 to 1.75 million.

The US had the most cases at 19.21 million, up 98,840, followed by India with 10.16 million, up 22,350. Thailand ranked 144th.: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand...-110-new-cases

Perhaps a blessing in disguise for the Golden Land.

[S Landreth]

COVID Doesn't Pass From Mom to Fetus During Pregnancy

A new study may prove reassuring for expectant moms: Pregnant women who are infected with COVID-19 during their third trimester appear unlikely to pass the infection to their fetuses.

This study was conducted between April and June 2020 among women who came to one of three Boston area hospitals either for treatment of COVID-19 or for delivery.

None of the newborns of the 127 pregnant women, including 64 who had varying levels of illness from the virus, tested positive for the coronavirus.

"I think that's probably one of the more reassuring pieces to a patient, just that if you get COVID-19 in pregnancy, still there seems to be a relatively low chance that your fetus is going to be born with active COVID-19 infection," said study author Dr. Andrea Edlow, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

The study participants who had tested positive for COVID-19 included 36% who were asymptomatic, 34% who had mild disease, 11% who had moderate disease, 16% with severe disease and 3% with critical disease.

The study also included 63 pregnant women who tested negative for the virus and 11 reproductive-age women who were not pregnant, to provide comparison.

Researchers evaluated the levels of virus in respiratory, blood and placental tissue samples. They also looked for the development of maternal antibodies, how well those antibodies passed through the placenta to the fetus and examined placental tissue.

They found detectable levels of the virus in the women's saliva, nasal and throat secretions. They found no virus in the bloodstream or the placenta.

Though in this study none of the babies were born positive for COVID-19, the risk isn't zero, Edlow cautioned. Other studies have shown the range is quite low, however, much lower than in other viruses, including Zika or cytomegalovirus, she noted.

Another significant but less encouraging finding from the study is that the moms infected with COVID-19 did make antibodies to the virus but did not transfer them across the placenta as much as would be expected.

While finding lower-than-expected levels of protective antibodies in umbilical cord blood, researchers found high levels of influenza antibodies, possibly from maternal flu vaccination, according to the study.

In other viruses or vaccines, antibodies tend to be transferred at much higher levels, possibly for evolutionary reasons because babies can't develop their own antibodies until 6 months of age, Edlow said.

The study was published Dec. 22 in the journal JAMA Network Open.

The new findings may have implications over how the new COVID vaccine can affect pregnancy, according to an editorial accompanying the study.

"I don't think it's definitive, but it raises unanswered questions about whether maternal antibodies from COVID vaccination are going to help protect the baby the way we see with, for example, influenza vaccine," said editorial co-author Dr. Denise Jamieson, chair of the department of gynecology and obstetrics at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

The findings highlight the importance of ensuring that pregnant women are included in research, Jamieson said, because scientists need to better understand how medication and vaccines work specifically in pregnant women.

"I think it's a really exciting time. I think we now have the tools to end this pandemic. It's going take some time, and in the meantime, pregnant women need to be vigilant and continue to protect themselves, but I'm very optimistic knowing that pregnant women are going to have access to these [COVID] vaccines," Jamieson said.

Although children overall have more mild disease when contracting COVID-19, infants are at higher risk for severe disease. Pregnant women are also at increased risk of severe disease.

In past research, other viral infections and getting fevers in pregnancy were associated with increased risk for certain neurodevelopmental issues in offspring that include autism, ADHD, anxiety and depression, Edlow noted.

The researchers hope to follow up with the women from this study and their children in future research.

"There could be longer-term, more subtle neurodevelopmental effects or other effects on organ programming that could occur that are separate from birth defects or stillbirth or being born with COVID-19," Edlow said. "There are potentially more subtle effects that we'll probably need years to tease out.": https://www.usnews.com/news/health-n...regnancy-study

• Coronavirus Cases: 79,827,008

Deaths: 1,751,205

Underreported US death count: 337,066

American Civil War Casualties (North and South) - 214,938

it's been blown way out of proportion.