Covid variants are blamed for spike in cases in states like Tennessee and Michigan while fully-open Texas sees a fall - as nationwide deaths drop by a QUARTER in a week to 737
The seven-day rolling average of US fatalities has fallen by a quarter compared to 14 days ago to 737
But cases are rising in states like Tennessee and Michigan where more than 50% of infections are caused by the UK variant
Texas is fully reopened, but cases continue to decline there. Only 42% of its infections are caused by the B117 variant
Nationwide an average of more than 68,000 new infections are being recorded a day, up about six percent compared to last week
Americans living abroad are returning back to the United States to receive their coronavirus vaccinations amid frustrations with delays in rollouts of the shots across the globe.
The U.S. is setting up a $1.7 billion national network to identify and track worrisome coronavirus mutations More dangerous variants are growing, causing increases in cases in people without immunity, warned Coronavirus adviser Andy Slavitt Friday
The money will go toward the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments initiatives to gene-map coronavirus
The U.S. government will also create partnerships with universities to conduct research and develop technologies for gene-based surveillance of pathogens
Additionally, a data system will be built to share and analyze emerging disease threats, setting up infrastructure to prevent future pandemics
Tucker Carlson on Tuesday night asked why masks were still recommended
He said if vaccinated people still needed them, maybe vaccines don t work
Anthony Fauci on Wednesday morning dismissed Carlson s speculation
Fauci said: That s just a typical crazy conspiracy theory
Carlson on Wednesday night doubled down on his challenge to Fauci If this stuff works, why can t you live like it works? the Fox News host said
During his Wednesday episode of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” the Fox News host played a clip from a CNN interview with Fauci earlier that day in which the nation’s top infectious diseases expert argued that Carlson was advancing a “typical crazy conspiracy theory.”
Fauci specifically criticized Carlson questioning guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that recommends that vaccinated people continue to wear masks and conform to social distancing guidelines.
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“If the vaccine is effective, there is no reason for people who have received the vaccine to wear masks or avoid physical contact,” Carlson had said on Tuesday. “So maybe it doesn’t work, and they’re simply not telling you that.