Gov’t Bows to Vax Makers’ Demands? 2nd Wave Hits Europe; FDA Wants Makena Pulled

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The White House is blocking new FDA guidelines that would stiffen requirements for authorizing COVID-19 vaccines, after manufacturers reportedly objected to the guidance. (New York Times, Politico)

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Pastor Greg Laurie of the Harvest Christian Fellowship megachurch were the latest attendees at a recent White House event to report a positive coronavirus test. MedPage Today has a running list here.

Perhaps the most at risk White House staffers, however, are the 100 members of the White House’s residence staff. (The Atlantic)

Finally: the CDC acknowledges the potential for airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

As of 8:00 a.m. ET Tuesday, the estimated U.S. COVID-19 toll reached 7,459,102 cases and 210,196 deaths — up 40,364 and 462, respectively, since the same time Monday.

The Northeast and Midwest are experiencing surges, and new cases have risen for at least two weeks in a row in 21 states. (Reuters)

Lockdown measures make a comeback in Europe. (The Guardian)

WHO official said roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide have been infected with COVID-19 and that we are now heading into a “difficult period.” (Reuters)

Three doctors met with HHS Secretary Alex Azar and Trump advisor Scott Atlas, MD, to push the herd immunity hypothesis. (The Hill)

European drug regulators are investigating reports of acute kidney injury in some COVID-19 patients who were on remdesivir. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

Moderna failed to enroll enough people of color in its vaccine trial and slowed enrollment to ensure more minority volunteers were recruited. (Reuters)

Trump issued an executive order establishing a Coronavirus Mental Health Working Group to respond to “mental-health conditions induced or exacerbated by the pandemic, including issues related to suicide prevention.”

Texas universities have plenty of tests, but participation rates are far lower than expected, prompting one school to offer prizes to students volunteering to be tested. (Texas Tribune)

PBS is airing a segment tonight on the nationwide scramble for personal protective equipment in the first wave of the pandemic.

In other news: