This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots for October 15th, 2021.

A major study shows infections among school-aged children in England are “high and rising.” That probably ups the intensity of the debate over kids and vaccines. The reproduction rate of those aged 17 and younger was 1.18, meaning on average every 10 infected young people are passing it on to about 12 others.

From the gee I wish we’d known this earlier department, two new international studies show the immune protection from two doses of Pfizer drops off after a mere two months. One study found the drop especially true for men, people 65 and older, and those with immunosuppression. The study also found immunity lasts longer from a vaccination if you’ve already had a natural case of COVID-19.

Penn State College of Medicine researchers found more than half of the 236 million people diagnosed with COVID-19 worldwide since December 2019 will experience post-COVID symptoms for up to six months after recovering. These include tiredness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, sore joints and loss of taste or smell. The research team said healthcare officials should get ready for all those survivors who’ll need care for psychological and physical conditions.

How do airline passengers feel about vaccine mandates to fly? Well, it’s America, so the answer is, it’s split. That’s according to the travel website Skift’s poll. 45% definitely want a mandate, 23% don’t care either way, and 33% are against it. The older the person, the more likely they are to be in favor of requiring vaccinations to fly.

With all the stories of overworked nurses with PTSD and of nurses who are getting fired or quitting because of vaccine mandates, you’d think it wouldn’t be a very alluring occupation right now. But applications to nursing schools are actually rising. Up 5.6% in 2020 according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and number are also trending up in 2021. The reasons; unprecedented career opportunities, the challenge, and many people have been inspired by healthcare workers over the past couple of years.

In the United States cases were down 22%, deaths are down 5%, and hospitalizations are down 21% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since September 13.

There are 9,702,828 active cases in the United States.

With not all states reporting daily numbers, the five states with the greatest increase in hospitalizations per capita: Michigan 26%, Minnesota 21%. North Dakota 16%, Montana 13%, and Pennsylvania 11%.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Bethel Census Area, AK. Stark, ND. Goshen, WY. Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK. Lewis, KY. Lake, MT. Nome Census Area, AK. Rio Grande, CO. Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK. And Whitley, KY.

There have been at least 720,482 deaths in the U.S. recorded as Covid-related.

The top 3 vaccinating states by percentage of population that’s been fully vaccinated: Vermont unchanged at 70.3%, Connecticut unchanged at 69.6%, and Rhode Island at 69.5%. The bottom 3 vaccinating states are West Virginia still unchanged at 40.7%, Idaho unchanged at 42.5%, and Wyoming at 42.7%. The percentage of the U.S. that’s been fully vaccinated is unchanged at 56.5%.

The five countries with the biggest 24-hour increases in the number of fully vaccinated people: Cambodia, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, and Oceana all up 2%.

Globally, cases were down 14% and deaths were down 15% over 14 days, with the 7-day average trending down since August 26.

There are 17,809,484 active cases around the world.

The five countries with the most new cases: The United States 99,775. The U.K. 42,606. Turkey 31,248. Russia 28,717. And India...

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