This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for January 18th, 2021.

It’s good to have a goal. The U.K. government plans to offer a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine to every adult by September. That’s some 51 million people. They’ll soon start a trial of round the clock injections at some locations as it adds more sites to sites like the historic Salisbury Cathedral, where injections are accompanied by organ music.

But how much faith do Brits have in NHS? Polls show public confidence in its ability to manage the pandemic has fallen to its lowest level since the outbreak began. Only 60% think it can care properly for those with Covid-19. The proportion who aren’t confident has risen to 35%.

Eyes are on Israel as that country has vaccinated at least 25% of its population so far. That makes it the best place to see if any level of herd immunity results. Infectious disease expert David Fishman says the case rate there appears to have declined sharply, but more studies need to be done on if the vaccine is the direct cause.

Business Today reports scientists working at the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab confessed that Covid-19 infected bats bit them while they were collecting samples in a cave. One researcher said one bat's fangs went through his rubber gloves like a needle. A World Health Organization team is in China now investigating the virus’ origins.

Infamous music producer, Phil Spector has died from Covid-related complications in prison where he was serving 19 years to life for murder. Sources say he was diagnosed 4 weeks ago, was moved to a hospital, but sent back to prison where he later relapsed. Among groups he produced, The Righteous Brothers, Ike & Tina Turner, The Beatles and John Lennon. He was 81.

In the United States cases were up 9%, deaths up 27%, and hospitalizations up 5% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 8th.

There are now 9,646,497 active cases in the United States. The current top 5 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Georgia.

The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Morgan, KY. Hall, TX. Forest, PA. La Salle, TX. Montour, PA. Hyde, NC. Webb, TX. Val Verde, TX. Randolph, WV. And Foard, TX.

The five states with the highest risk levels and most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are Arizona, California, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, and Texas.

The infection reproduction rate is currently highest in Washington, Hawaii, and Kentucky. The states with the lowest reproduction rate are West Virginia, Illinois, and Indiana.

There’ve been a total 397,561 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 1.67%.

The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Texas 209. New York 204. California 201. Florida 132. South Carolina 129. Louisiana 123. Pennsylvania 121. Massachusetts 69. North Carolina 67. And Ohio 65.

Globally, cases were up 14%, and deaths up 22% over 14 days. The 7-day average of new cases has been trending down since January 11.

Globally, there are now over 25 million active cases, at 25,273,346.

The five countries with the most new cases: the United States 174,560. The U.K. 38,598. Brazil 31,394. Russia 23,586. And Mexico 20,523.

There have now been over 2 million deaths reported as Covid-related worldwide, at 2,029,938.

For the latest updates, subscribe for free to Coronavirus 411 on your podcast app or ask your smart speaker to play the Coronavirus 411 podcast.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Podcasts