(Reuters) – Pfizer Inc’s PFE.N experimental COVID-19 vaccine was more than 90% effective based on initial trial results, the company said on Monday, a major victory in the fight against a pandemic that has killed over a million people and battered the world’s economy.Experts welcomed the first successful interim data from a large-scale clinical test as a watershed moment that showed vaccines could halt the pandemic though mass roll-outs of the shot, which needs regulatory approval, won’t happen this year. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech SE BNTX.O said they had so far found no serious safety concerns and expected to seek U.S. authorization this month for emergency use of the vaccine, raising the possibility of a regulatory decision as soon as December. If granted, the companies estimate they can roll out up to 50 million doses this year, enough to protect 25 million people, and then produce up to 1.3 billion doses in 2021. “Today is a great day for science and humanity,” Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chairman and chief executive, said. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity and economies struggling to reopen.” Experts cautioned that they still needed to see the full trial data, which have yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, but the preliminary results looked encouraging so far. There are still many questions around the vaccine, such as how effective it is for vulnerable groups and how long it will provide immunity, and the “new normal” of social distancing and face masks looks set to remain for the foreseeable future. BioNTech Chief Executive Ugur Sahin told Reuters he was optimistic the immunisation effect of the vaccine would last for a year though that was not yet certain. “This news made me smile from ear to ear. It is a relief to see such positive results on this vaccine and bodes well for COVID-19 vaccines in general,” said Peter Horby, professor of emerging infectious diseases at the University of Oxford. The prospect of a vaccine electrified world markets with the S&P 500 and Dow hitting record highs as shares of banks, oil majors and travel companies soared. Pfizer shares were 8.6% higher in New York at 1450 GMT, while BioNTech’s stock was up 11%.
More nurses dead from coronavirus than in WWI – Int’l Council of Nurses
An independent investigation probes the death toll of healthcare workers, estimating it is much higher than reported, and condemns worldwide organizations for not doing as such.
An independent investigation probes the death toll of healthcare workers, estimating it is much higher than reported, and condemns worldwide organizations for not doing as such.The International Council of Nurses is a federation that represents more than 20 million nurses worldwide. When they conducted their own data analysis, they discovered that 1,500 nurses have died so far from COVID-19. Up from 1,097 in August, that’s the highest nurse-death count since World War I, the ICN announced on Wednesday, October 28.
Is the COVID-19 risk on airplanes really that low? Here’s what experts say
With the demand for air travel still in a slump, the airline industry is promoting studies that suggest the risk of contracting the coronavirus while flying is low. Although healthcare experts say the air filtration system in most commercial planes helps reduce the risk of being infected, they point out that the studies have limitations and the results are not all definitive.
Delta Air Lines and two of the world’s largest airline-industry trade groups have promoted the recent studies as they seek to ease the fear of flying during a pandemic that has killed more than a million people worldwide.
New study from @HarvardChanSPH reveals that the multiple layers of protection against COVID-19 make being on an airplane as safe if not substantially safer than other routine activities, such as grocery shopping or going to a restaurant. https://t.co/HG8l0ep2UD
— Airlines for America (@AirlinesDotOrg) October 28, 2020
Why is it important to airlines to promote the safety of flying?
The volume of passengers flying on U.S.-based airlines is down 63% compared with the same time last year, with domestic travel dropping 61% and international flying down 77%. As a result, U.S.-based carriers are losing more than $200 million a day combined, according to Airlines for America, a trade group for the U.S. airline industry.
What are the studies they’re promoting?
The most prominent study was conducted and sponsored by United Airlines, airplane manufacturer Boeing and the U.S. Department of Defense. To see how the coronavirus might spread in a commercial jet, the study measured a fluorescent aerosol spray that was emitted from a mannequin placed in various seats in two types of Boeing jets.
The mannequin was moved throughout the cabins of the planes, with sensors installed in surrounding seats to measure how far the aerosol spray traveled. More than 300 tests were conducted, with variables such as having the mannequin emit aerosol at different strengths to replicate breathing, speaking or coughing. Tests were performed with and without the mannequin wearing a mask.
The study concluded that the “aerosol exposure risk is minimal even during long duration flights,” with the highest risk coming to those sitting in the same row as the mannequin.
Do healthcare experts agree?
Only partially. Infectious-disease and healthcare experts say the study correctly concludes that the infection risk is lower on a plane than in places such as stores and restaurants. The study gave much of the credit to the air circulation system in airplane cabins that pushes air through high-efficiency particulate air filters, known as HEPA filters.
But the experts note that the test was limited to certain scenarios. The study did not measure what happens when an infected passenger turns his or her head to talk to a fellow traveler or gets out of the seat to walk down the aisle or use the lavatory. The mannequin stayed in a seat, facing forward, during the tests. “In real life, people move around the plane, disrupting the airflow and probably resulting in higher exposures in some locations and lower exposures in others, compared to the study,” said Linsey Marr, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech. “These real-life considerations could easily increase the risk by a factor of 10 to 100.” The test also assumed that all passengers wore masks and that the cabin had only one infected person.
Mercedes Carnethon, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University, added that the study did not gauge the risk of getting to and from a flight, walking through a crowded airport terminal and queueing up with travelers who may or may not be wearing masks.
“Based on these findings, the time spent on the airplane is not the riskiest aspect of traveling,” she said. The study includes a section titled “Limitations and Assumptions” that acknowledges some of those points.
What other data have been touted by the airline industry?
The International Air Transport Assn., the trade group for the world’s airlines, announced this month that there have been only 44 cases this year in which COVID-19 is believed to have been transmitted on a plane. By comparison, the group noted, about 1.2 billion travelers have flown on commercial flights worldwide in the same period.
“We think these figures are extremely reassuring,” Dr. David Powell, the IATA’s medical advisor, said in a statement. “Furthermore, the vast majority of published cases occurred before the wearing of face coverings in flight became widespread.”
The group said its numbers align with data in a study recently published in the Journal of Travel Medicine.
Is everyone on board with that?
No. Dr. David O. Freedman, a professor emeritus of infectious disease at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who co-wrote the Journal of Travel Medicine study, said the IATA misrepresented his findings.
Although he agrees that the overall risk of getting infected while in a plane is low, he said the IATA cannot assume that only 44 travelers have been infected on flights when there are no data showing that the other 1.2 billion fliers were tested or quarantined after they disembarked from their flights.
“You can’t say the denominator is 1.2 billion uninfected because only a small handful of these passengers were ever tested for COVID,” Freedman said. “IATA wanted a number, but no good published risk numbers are yet out there.”
In the Oct. 8 press release that touted its findings, the IATA acknowledged that “there is no way to establish an exact tally of possible flight-associated cases.” It said it reached out to airlines and public health authorities and reviewed available literature and found no “indication that onboard transmission is in any way common or widespread.”
Are there other industry-backed studies?
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health released a study Tuesday that was sponsored by Airlines for America and a consortium of other airline businesses that concluded “there has been little evidence to date of onboard disease transmission.” The study was based on the review of previously published studies and public data, plus modeling of onboard disease transmission data conducted by Harvard experts. The study said airlines have kept onboard transmissions low by requiring masks on all passengers and crew members, pushing cabin air through HEPA filters, disinfecting cabins between flights and screening passengers for COVID-19 symptoms.
Did the study call for any changes in the way we fly?
The Harvard study concluded that to further reduce the risk of onboard infections, airlines should continue to operate the air ventilation system while passengers are boarding and leaving the plane. It also said passengers should be encouraged to maintain physical distance from one another when they file into the plane’s cramped aisles to find their seats and when filing out to exit the plane.
US sees record 88,521 new daily virus cases
The U.S. has reported a record-breaking number of new coronavirus cases, continuing an alarming surge and stoking concerns from health experts that the nation could be in for a difficult winter. The country reported 83,757 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, passing the last record of roughly 77,300 cases seen on July 16 as the U.S. grappled with outbreaks in Sun Belt states, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. On Saturday, the U.S. reported another 83,718 new coronavirus cases. “I think we’re in for a very hard stretch here,” Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, told CNBC on Friday evening. “I think the winter is going to be very difficult.”
Coronavirus cases grew by 5% or more over the past week in 37 states as of Friday, according to a CNBC analysis of Johns Hopkins data that uses a weekly average to smooth out fluctuations in daily reporting. Some states, like California and Alabama, have been working through a backlog of tests that were added to Friday’s count, pushing the nation’s total higher, according to their data dashboards. However, the nation is now reporting roughly 63,200 daily new cases based on a weekly average, a more than 14% increase compared with a week ago. While Covid-19 testing is up nearly 13% from Oct. 1, new cases have risen at a much faster rate. The seven-day average of new infections is up 51% over that same period, according to Johns Hopkins data. “I think we’re going to bear a lot more infection … and the health-care system is going to have to bear the brunt of this burden, because I don’t think you have the popular will for stay-at-home orders or broad mitigation,” Gottlieb said, adding that the virus’ spread would slow “if everyone would just wear masks.” The recent surge is a “distressing trend” that is likely due to “smaller, more intimate gatherings of family, friends and neighbors” that are moving indoors as the weather cools, Jay Butler, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s deputy director for infectious diseases, told reporters on a conference call Wednesday. The outbreaks are building throughout the country with particular areas of concern in the Midwest, Butler said. As of Friday, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Wisconsin continue to report the highest number of new cases per capita.
The increase in cases in several states are leading to more hospitalizations and will ultimately lead to more deaths, White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci told MSNBC’s Chuck Todd on Friday. Thirteen states reached record high hospitalizations on Friday, based on a weekly average. Many of them are in the West and Midwest, including Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming, according to a CNBC analysis of Covid Tracking Project data. Coronavirus deaths have remained relatively flat in the U.S., though health experts warn fatalities typically lag infections by a few weeks. “When you enter the season of the cooler months of the fall and the colder months of the winter, where a lot of activity, out of necessity, is going to be inside as opposed to outside, that’s a difficult and challenging situation to be in because you have a couple of factors against you,” Fauci said.
Germany adds record 18,681 COVID cases, 77 deaths
Another 77 deaths were reported in the past day
That brings the total number of confirmed cases to just shy of 500,000 with over 130,000 active cases seen across the country as of yesterday. Meanwhile, the 77 deaths today brings the total tally on that front to 10,349 persons. There are now 314/412 – an increase of 16 – districts in Germany deemed as ‘high risk’. German chancellor Merkel yesterday expressed concerns surrounding healthcare capacity in the country, and RKI reports that there are 1,696 coronavirus patients in intensive care beds as of its latest detailed report yesterday. That figure is more than double what it was 2 weeks ago on 15 October i.e. 655 patients.
The DIVI registry shows that there are still 7,559 available intensive care beds across the country, but the fear is that the pace in which the virus is spreading will start to push that to the limit in just a matter of weeks if not months. modified coronavirus is a killer.
Salvavida Suggestions
Salvavida Suggestions:
- Isolation from people is the BEST thing you can do. For people I must see they stay OUTSIDE and we speak through Plexiglas.
- Constantly circulate your air. I suck in air through a panel ULPA U15 clean room filter I made and I exhaust the air through a powered ventilator on the roof. We’re in the process of looking into manufacturing ULPA U15 clean room/biolab filters for your air conditioning and forced air systems. If you have an interest, contact us at 866-924-0607 with the size of your present filters.
- Use a proper reusable surgical silicone mask (we still have some in stock) with P3 U15 filters. I exhausted all supplies of workable P3 cartridge filters. SO I made my own. They are the ONLY P3 R ULPA U15 cartridge filters made in the world for face masks (click here to see specifications). I took the technology from Biolabs Level 4 filtration systems. If you had showed an interest I sent you a complimentary sample of my new cartridge filter.
- I take Vitamin D3 in the form of Choleciferol. Usually that is a minimum of 10,000 IU a day. Studies have shown you should raise your blood levels to 25(OH)D concentrations above 40–60 ng/mL (100–150 nmol/L). You can only know by getting your blood tested. I do blood tests every 3 months.
- It is also recommended to take Vitamin K2 in the form of MK7. Recommended dose of 100 micro grams.
- Consider taking Melatonin at night 2mg.
- I like to add Omega 3 (DHA) fatty acid supplements 350 mg.
- Zinc (30 to 60 mg) is a great immune system support vitamin. It is hard to get into your cells because of its ion charge.
- Green Tea (polyphenol) aides in getting Zinc into your cells. I make it by boiling pure water with FRESH ginger root (a natural anti inflammatory), lemon and cinnamon sticks (a natural antibiotic) first. Add the green tea after you boil the other ingredients… Let the water cool a little before adding the leaves.
- Turmeric Curcumin Root is a natural anti-inflammatory 15 mg.
- Ginger Root Powder (from 10-1 concentrate) 1500 mg.
- Quinine. I take it in the form of tonic water. In the US Schweppes is a good choice. I drink several glasses a day. The best TONIC water in my opinion containing quinine is Fever-Tree out of India. It has higher levels of Quinine and less sugar. You can make your own Quinine by buying Cinchona bark purchased at the health food store and making your own. Lots of recipes on the internet.
- Nicotine. Despite the hysteria there are many known health benefits. Studies have show that Nicotine is a natural Ace2 inhibitor. And in your sinus it is an antiviral. I prefer to get my nicotine dose by smoking a pipe with organic tobacco filtered through a charcoal filter. Just like Bill Clinton I do not inhale. I now live a minimalist lifestyle with a few exceptions left over from my NY days. Every day I smoke 1 Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos cigar. If your are nasty smoke obsessed you could consider using a nicotine patch or vaping pure nicotine diluted as per instructions… (Consult your Doctor). These patches and vaping can be dangerous.
- Mouthwash. I learned a long time ago to fight other corona viruses to OFTEN gargle with a mouth wash containing Chlorhexidine Digluconate. Most all the respiratory viruses grow in the case of the flu on the roof of your mouth. The Coronavirus grows in the back of your sinuses and then “leaks” into your throat and into your lungs. Many studies have show a benefit from vigorously gargling with the RIGHT mouth wash.
- Left over from a different time in my life is a passion for Scotch Whiskey. Now not just any Scotch but Macallan single malt 30 year old. I drink 1 fluid ounce every day after the markets close. The stuff costs silly money. But I have a stash in my “trophies case” See I get the stuff for free. I ask everyone who joins my Millionaires Club to send me a bottle. Needless to say I have a nice stash.
In closing we make no medical claims whatsoever for the above. These are suggestions I found in published research from what I regard as credible sources. In The Pandemic Informer news pages I have published the studies that support these conclusion. ThePandemicInformer.com Click the link and the page will open in a new browser tab. Call 866-924-0607 for a username and password.
Before taking any medicines, home remedies, vitamins or a drink of water consult your medical professional.
We make no medical claims nor allude to any medical benefit of or for the vitamins, minerals, supplements, tobacco products, mouth wash, whiskey or filters or mechanical devices mentioned in this report.
WARNING: Cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, even if you do not inhale.
WARNING: Pipe Tobacco contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
WARNING: Vaping products contain nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.
All French regions placed on high virus alert – Macron
In a stark TV address to the nation, the French President warned: “The virus is circulating in France at a speed that even the most pessimistic forecasts had not anticipated.”We are all overwhelmed by a second wave which we know will arguably be tougher and more deadly than the first.”The new lockdown, which will run until December 1, will be reviewed every two weeks. It comes after 527 more deaths were recorded yesterday in France, the highest daily death toll since April, with 33,417 new confirmed cases in 24 hours. Under France’s new measures visits to care homes – which were banned during the country’s previous two-month lockdown – will still be allowed.
The virus is circulating in France at a speed that even the most pessimistic forecasts had not anticipated Emmanuel Macron
Mr Macron added: “If we do not put a brutal brake on contamination today, our hospitals will quickly become overwhelmed.”We will never let hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens die. These are not our values.” Meanwhile, the EU’s top adviser on the pandemic warned most of the continent will have to go back into some form of lockdown. Professor Peter Piot said people had “relaxed too much” on social distancing measures like mask wearing and now “we’re paying a high price”.
And he warned if current restrictions are eased too soon Europe may face “a third wave with maybe even more deaths”. It comes as another 310 Brits were reported today to have died from coronavirus, as deaths double in just a fortnight. Brussels boss Ursula von der Leyen admitted Christmas will be “different” but said “a lot depends on behaviour from each individual in the next few weeks”. Mrs Merkel signed off on a second lockdown for all of November after an emergency meeting with state premiers from across Germany. She admitted: “We are now at a point where, on average nationally, we no longer know where 75 per cent of infections come from.”
We are now at a point where, on average nationally, we no longer know where 75 per cent of infections come from Angela Merkel
Under the measures, due to come in on Monday morning, people will be restricted to meeting members of just one other household in public. Bars, restaurants, gyms, and cultural venues will be ordered to close and hotels can only stay open for non-tourism related stays. Schools and nurseries will be allowed to stay open as will shops so long as they impose hygiene measures and limit customer numbers. The plan says: “Families and friends should be able to meet each other even under Corona conditions during the Christmas season.” In France, Mr Macron ordered bars, restaurants, and secondary schools to shutter as of midnight on Thursday. In France, schools and key public services were given a reprieve after doctors warned hospitals are just days from being overrun. Europe is being ravaged by a second wave of the virus that experts are warning will be worse than the first. Authorities in Belgium, which has the highest case rate in the EU, are also eyeing a second national lockdown as early as this weekend.
Dow drops 900 points on mounting concerns over the coronavirus and the global economic recovery
U.S. stocks fell sharply on Wednesday amid concerns over the latest increase in coronavirus infections and its potential impact on the global economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 900 points, or more than 3%. The S&P 500 slid 3.2% and the Nasdaq Composite traded 3.4% lower. The U.S. indexes took their cues from the European market benchmarks. The German Dax index dropped 4.2% to its lowest level since late May. The French CAC 40 slid 3.4%. The FTSE 100 in London closed 2.6% lower. “Investors’ hopes that the COVID pandemic would not force further stringent mitigations measures and/or potential wholesale lockdowns that would push global economies back into ‘low-consumption mode’ appear to be coming under challenge,” said Yousef Abbasi, global market strategist at StoneX. “Avoiding these stringent measures has been a major tenant of the bullish thesis, particularly for those looking to value stocks and for a steeper yield-curve.”
U.S. coronavirus cases have risen by a record daily average of 71,832 over the past week, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University showed. Meanwhile, coronavirus-related hospitalizations are up 5% or more in three dozen states, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project. Cases are also rising sharply across Europe. The recent uptick in Covid cases has led some countries to reinstate certain social distancing measures. In the U.S., the state of Illinois has ordered Chicago to shut down indoor dining. In Europe, German officials agreed to a four-week partial lockdown. The French government was also expected to impose new restrictions to stem the recent coronavirus increase. “I think there’s going to be a call for lockdowns the likes of which we’ve seen in Chicago,” CNBC’s Jim Cramer said Wednesday. “The lockdowns without the stimulus equals what we’re seeing.” “It’s a shame because, had there been stimulus, we’d then be focusing on earnings and the earnings are actually pretty darn good,” he said. Stocks that would be hurt most by lockdowns or a slowdown in the economy reopening were hit. Shares of Delta Air Lines fell 4.3%. Royal Caribbean shares lost 4.2%. Facebook, Alphabet and Twitter were also down sharply as their respective CEOs testified in front of Senate members. Facebook and Twitter were off by 4.6% and 5.1%, respectively, and Alphabet slid 4.8%. Investors turned to bonds in their search for safety. The 10-year Treasury note yield fell to 0.76%. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX), known on Wall Street as the market’s “fear gauge,” jumped above 38 and hit its highest level since June 15. “We believe investors should seek to put further COVID-19-related restrictions in perspective and see market setbacks as an opportunity to build exposure in the winners from the next leg up,” said Mark Haefele, chief investment officer for global wealth management at UBS, in a note.Wall Street also pored through the latest batch of corporate earnings for the previous quarter, including those of tech giant Microsoft. Microsoft reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the previous quarter as sales from its cloud business grew sharply. However, the stock dipped 3.9% on light revenue guidance. Boeing reported a quarterly loss that’s narrower than expected, but the company said it plans to cut thousands of additional jobs through 2021 as it adjusts to the long-term drop in air travel demand. Boeing shares dropped 3.4%. Shares of General Electric gained more than 8% Wednesday after the company reported stronger than forecast revenues and a surprise adjusted profit for the third quarter. First Solar also posted quarterly numbers that beat analyst expectations, sending its shares up about 11.3%.
US slides on coronavirus fears, Dow down over 450 pts
(Reuters) – U.S. stock index futures fell on Wednesday, as rising coronavirus cases globally triggered fears of lockdowns disrupting a nascent economic recovery, while concerns over a contested presidential election also weighed. New cases and hospitalizations set records in the U.S. Midwest, while in Europe, concerns over a national lockdown in France sapped investor appetite for risk. [MKTS/GLOB] Spiraling pandemic, elevated unemployment levels and U.S. lawmakers failing to strike a deal on fresh fiscal stimulus before the Nov. 3 election sent the S&P 500 and tech-heavy Nasdaq to their lowest close in three weeks on Tuesday. Wall Street’s fear gauge .VIX spiked to its highest level in nearly two months as investors feared a contentious election among other outcomes in the final six-day stretch to the White House race. Democratic challenger Biden leads President Donald Trump nationally by 10 percentage points, according to the Reuters/Ipsos poll but the competition is tighter in swing states, which will decide the victor. At 06:28 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis 1YMcv1 were down 1.64% at 26,918 points and S&P 500 E-minis EScv1 fell 1.35% to 3,337.25 points. Nasdaq 100 E-minis NQcv1 dropped 1.05% to 11,465 points. Microsoft Corp’s MSFT.O quarterly results surpassed analysts targets, benefiting from a pandemic-driven shift to working from home and online learning. However, its shares fell 2% after rising 35% so far this year.The other Big Tech companies – Apple AAPL.O, Alphabet GOOGL.O, Amazon AMZN.O and Facebook FB.O – which are due to report results on Thursday, fell between 0.9% and 1.6%. The White House communications director stated that the relief legislation could be passed “within weeks.”
First vaccines to reduce symptoms not stop COVID – Fauci
The latter goal is a secondary endpoint, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “The primary thing you want to do is that if people get infected, prevent them from getting sick, and if you prevent them from getting sick, you will ultimately prevent them from getting seriously ill,” Fauci said at Yahoo Finance’s All Markets Summit Monday. “What I would settle for, and all of my colleagues would settle for, is the primary endpoint to prevent clinically recognizable disease,” he said. That level of protection would be the ultimate goal to diffusing the crisis, but is hard to do with companies facing an immediate demand for some sort of solution. While no vaccine is 100% effective, having a majority of the population inoculated and higher percentages of efficacy is the best to hope for. The most effective vaccine is the measles vaccine, which elicits an antibody response 98% of the time. Currently AstraZeneca (AZN), developing Oxford University’s vaccine; Pfizer (PFE) with partner BioNTech (BNTX); Moderna (MRNA); and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) are all in-late stage trials. Among them, Pfizer and BioNTech are in the lead to provide a first look at the vaccine’s effectiveness in the second half of November. At best, the duo could be the first to receive emergency use authorization and the only ones to do so by the end of the year. But there are still other vaccine candidates in the pipeline — many in early or pre-clinical stages. If their slower trajectory puts them in a situation of testing the vaccine when the outbreak lessens, it could make it harder to test the potential effectiveness of a candidate. For this reason, the U.K. is looking at challenge trials, which intentionally infect a smaller group of participants with the virus in an effort to test a vaccine’s or treatment’s efficacy. Fauci said the U.S. is not anticipating such a move because the rate of spread is so high in the country that it’s sufficient enough of an environment to test the vaccine. The daily case count for the U.S. in the past few days has reached a new record of more than 80,000 cases. “So although you can get some good information from a challenge trial, the real-world information that you want is out in the field when someone is actually being exposed to natural infection, and to determine if the vaccine prevents against that,” Fauci said. “So right now we’re not planning any challenge studies because we have so much infection going on.”