Trump No Longer Contagious; Fauci Comments Hijacked; Schools Look Safe

Note that some links may require registration or subscription.

White House physician Sean Conley, DO, said on Saturday that President Trump is “no longer considered a transmission risk to others, and the president declared himself “immune” as he returns to in-person campaigning. (Politico )

“The data speak for themselves — we had a super-spreader event in the White House,” said NIAID director Anthony Fauci, MD, of the Sept. 26 Rose Garden ceremony that led to dozens of COVID-19 infections. (BBC)

A month ago, the CDC proposed making face masks mandatory on all planes, trains, subways and airports, but the White House blocked the order. (New York Times)

As of Monday at 8:00 a.m. EST, the unofficial COVID-19 toll included 7,763,457 cases and 214,776 deaths. That’s up 344,719 cases and 5,042 deaths in the last week.

NIH’s COVID-19 therapeutic management guidelines were updated with remdesivir as first-line treatment for hospitalized patients requiring supplemental oxygen, and dexamethasone with or without remdesivir for patients requiring oxygen through a high-flow device or mechanical ventilation.

Fauci complained about a new Trump campaign ad in which he appears — with a quote taken out of context and without permission, he said. (CNN)

Younger people drive transmission of COVID-19 in hotspot counties. Percent positivity among those 24 and younger began increasing a month before areas became official hotspots. (MMWR)

Pfizer said it may have data on its COVID-19 vaccine prior to the election, though the company promised to keep politics out of decisions to seek emergency use authorization. (Politico)

Emily Miller was removed as the FDA’s top spokesperson after the agency’s emergency use authorization of convalescent plasma drew controversy, but she still has a job at the FDA. (Endpoints News)

A month into the school year, and the socially distanced, partially hybrid versions of schools appear not to be COVID-19 super-spreaders. (The Atlantic)

As Europe struggles with a second COVID-19 wave, China remains on high alert; other Asian nations saw spikes a few weeks ago that have largely died down. (Reuters, Worldometer)

Adjuvants used in some coronavirus vaccine formulations could put more pressure on endangered global shark populations, conservationists warn. (NPR)

The NBA boasted zero COVID-19 cases inside its 6,500-person “bubble” during the restarted season, now completed with the Los Angeles Lakers as champions; the NHL had pulled it off too. (Insider, Washington Post)

In other news: