LOS ANGELES, Calif. Nov 2 – Today, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (Public Health) provided the framework for lifting masking requirements at events and indoor establishments.
For outdoor mega events involving more than 10,000 people, Public Health outlined that before masking requirements are lifted, all of the following criteria need to be met: L.A. County case rates must demonstrate three consecutive weeks at or below moderate transmission as defined by the CDC – that is, less than 50 new weekly cases per 100,000 residents; hospitalizations remain low and stable at or below 600 daily COVID hospitalizations for three consecutive weeks; 80% or more of county residents 12 and older are fully vaccinated; and there are no emerging reports of significantly circulating new variants of concern that threaten vaccine effectiveness.
For masking requirements to be lifted at indoor events or establishments involving fewer than 1,000 people, including indoor offices and worksites, sites must have a vaccination verification process in place, and all employees and customers must be fully vaccinated, accommodating with additional requirements those employees with approved exemptions. Additionally, L.A. County metrics must meet all of the same standards as for lifting masking requirements at outdoor mega events.
Indoor masking will remain mandatory due to federal and state requirements on public transit and transportation hubs (federal), and at TK-12 schools, childcare, and youth settings; healthcare settings; correctional facilities; homeless and emergency shelters and cooling centers; and indoor mega events involving more than 1,000 people (state).
In L.A. County, 900,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 will likely become newly eligible for vaccination this week. The County is well prepared to vaccinate children once the CDC grants final approval. Currently, the County expects to get nearly 300,000 doses as part of its first three waves of vaccine supply by the end of this week; the first pediatric doses are arriving today with additional doses scheduled to arrive later this week. If the CDC approves pediatric vaccines today, sites that already received doses may be able to start vaccinating as early as tomorrow afternoon or on Thursday. Doses are being allocated to the County and to the rest of the country on a pro-rata basis. Public Health does not anticipate scarcity, and expects there will be ample vaccine to meet demand.
A network of nearly 900 providers countywide is prepared to provide vaccines to children between the ages of 5 and 11. County mobile vaccination teams will work to supplement vaccinations offered by existing providers so that children have easy access to our most powerful protection from COVID-19. Over the course of the month of November, vaccines for children will be offered at 480 school-based events with a focus on schools in high-need areas.
Today, Public Health confirms 17 new deaths and 896 new cases of COVID-19. Of the 17 new deaths reported today, three people who passed away were over the age of 80, five people who died were between the ages of 65 and 79, three people who died were between the ages of 50 and 64, and two people who died were between the ages of 30 and 49. Four deaths were reported by the City of Long Beach. To date, Public Health has identified 1,495,014 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 26,661 deaths.
The County’s daily average case rate, with a 3-day lag, is 9.0 cases per 100,000 people, a slight increase from last week’s 3-day-lagged case rate of 8.0 cases per 100,000. CDC’s estimation of the County’s weekly case rate is 80.3 new cases per 100,000 residents, reflecting continued substantial transmission across the county and a small increase from last week’s case rate of 72 new cases per 100,000 residents.
There are 659 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized and 26% of these people are in the ICU. This is an increase of 30 daily hospitalizations over the past week.
Testing results are available for more than 9,076,000 individuals with 15% of people testing positive. Today’s test positivity rate is 1.0%.
“Our deepest condolences to those who are grieving the loss of a friend, neighbor, coworker, or loved one at this time. Our prayers and thoughts are with you,” said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, Director of Public Health. “We are hopeful that with continued increases in vaccination and boosters and adherence to the existing common sense safety precautions, we can reach a lower level of community transmission that positions us to lift the masking requirements. While transmission is substantial, we need to continue layering on protections, understanding that significant spread of the virus affects unvaccinated individuals and increasingly results in post-vaccination infections among those vaccinated. Substantial spread also creates a fertile breeding ground for new variants that can threaten our progress to date. Let’s continue to do what it takes to enable everyone to celebrate the upcoming holidays with family and friends, rather than being quarantined, sick, or hospitalized.”
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it can be helpful to plan ahead in order to have the safest and healthiest gatherings possible. Getting yourself and your loved ones vaccinated now gives you the best chance at having some protection from COVID over the holidays. Public Health recommends staying local until everyone in your household is fully vaccinated, and if you travel with unvaccinated family members, including young children, planning enough travel time to complete quarantine before joining the holiday gathering. Gathering outdoors is safest, especially when masks are off for eating and drinking. If outdoors isn’t possible or practical, improve the air flow indoors by opening windows and doors, using fans and portable air cleaners, and running the heating or air conditioner with upgraded or replaced filters.
Los Angeles County is administering boosters for all three FDA-approved vaccines; Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. People eligible for boosters include adults of any age who received their first Johnson & Johnson dose at least two months ago, and people who got the second dose of their Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least six months ago and are 65-plus years old or are over 18 and live in long-term care settings, have underlying medical conditions, or work or live in high-risk settings.
As of November 2, California Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of 4,671,147 COVID-19 cases and 71,570 deaths.
5月15日华盛顿报道，一些美国两党议员表示，美国应继续向台湾提供武器。此前，特朗普总统在结束与中国国家主席习近平的峰会后表示，他尚未决定是否推进一笔针对该岛屿的待定军售案。 特朗普总统今天离开北京后在“空军一号”专机上表示，在与中国国家主席习近平峰会期间“就台湾问题进行了大量交谈”，并证实习近平确实提到了美国的对台军售问题。特朗普总统表示，他在该问题上“未做出任何承诺”，并拒绝就一旦中国发动攻击，美国是否会出兵协防台湾公开表态。 特朗普总统的言论迅速引起了美国国会议员的关注。在美国国会一些两党议员，长期以来一直强力支持对台军售，也一直在敦促本届政府推进一笔价值140亿美元、今年一月份已获美国国会批准但并未落实的对台军售案。 得克萨斯州共和党籍众议员、前众议院外交事务委员会主席麦考尔（Michael McCaul）今天表示，美国必须“武装台湾，使其具备自卫能力，从而对习近平主席形成威慑。”麦考尔称，在峰会期间，习近平在台湾问题上的态度显得“非常强硬”，并补充道：“[习近平]谈论的内容中，绝大部分都与台湾有关”。 麦考尔就特朗普总统尚未就对台军售做出决定一事时说，“理应”做出决定。 根据中方发布的会晤通稿，在峰会期间，习近平主席向特朗普总统表示，台湾问题是中美关系中最重要的问题。中国外交部发言人指出，习近平主席明确表示，如果台湾问题“处理得当，双边关系将保持总体稳定”；反之，“两国将发生摩擦甚至冲突，从而使整个双边关系面临巨大风险”，“‘台独’与台海和平水火不容”。 特朗普总统在与习近平主席会晤后，在接受美国福克斯新闻（Fox News）采访时表示，他将这笔悬而未决的军售视为一张“非常好的谈判筹码”。 特朗普总统表示：“我可能会批准，也可能不会批准，如果台湾方面能稍微冷静一点，那将是非常明智之举；如果中国方面也能稍微冷静一点，那也将是非常明智之举。” 美国众议院外交委员会资深成员、来自纽约州的民主党众议员米克斯（Gregory Meeks）强调了美国支持台湾防务的重要性。米克斯是众议院民主党高层团体中的一员；在中美国家元首峰会召开前，曾敦促特朗普总统在与习近平主席会晤之前批准这笔已被推迟的军售案，并警告称，推迟对台军售可能会削弱对中国在台湾海峡采取侵略行动的威慑力。 米克斯今天在接受美国哥伦比亚广播公司新闻（CBS News）采访时表示：“我认为，确保台湾确实拥有自卫所需的装备，对我们而言至关重要。” 米克斯还指出，习近平主席对特朗普总统拥有“筹码”，但对“美国国会和美国人民”并不具备这种筹码。他表示，美国国会方面早已就该军售案采取了行动，而“目前将其搁置不前的正是总统本人”。…
5月15日德黑兰报道，正在印度新德里出席金砖国家（BRICS）集团会议的伊朗外交部长阿拉格奇（Abbas Araghchi）今天表示，伊朗“根本无法信任美国人”，美国正“试图维持”这一“摇摇欲坠”的停火局面，“以便给外交途径一个机会”。 阿拉格奇宣称伊朗在这场这战争中取得了胜利，并表示伊朗今后必须“被另眼相看，视作一个有能力与世界最强大国家相抗衡的强权”。 阿拉格奇表示，他乐于接受任何形式的支持，包括来自中国的支持，以协助解决中东地区的冲突。 阿拉格奇还表示：“我们赞赏任何有能力提供协助的国家，尤其是中国。我们与中国保持着非常良好的关系，互为战略伙伴。我们深知中方怀有善意，因此，凡是有助于外交解决的举措，伊斯兰共和国都将表示欢迎。” 与此同时，正在中国北京进行国事访问的美国总统特朗普今天表示，掌控霍尔木兹海峡的是美国，而非伊朗；他补充道：“我们基本上已经歼灭了他们的武装力量。”
5月15日北京报道，据白宫5月14日发布的会晤纪要显示，美国总统特朗普在访问北京期间与中国国家主席习近平达成共识，即霍尔木兹海峡必须保持畅通且伊朗绝不能拥有核武器之际，围绕这一关键航道的地缘紧张局势却呈上升趋势。 特朗普总统在接受美国福克斯新闻（Fox News）采访时透露，中国国家主席习近平在中美两国元首峰会期间向他保证，中方不会向伊朗提供军事装备；特朗普将此评价为一项“重大的表态”。 不过，美国国务卿卢比奥（Marco Rubio）在接受美国全国广播公司（NBC News）采访时表示，特朗普总统在北京举行峰会期间，并未就伊朗问题向中国寻求协助。 卢比奥说：“他没有向他们提出任何要求，我们没有向中国寻求协助，我们也不需要他们的协助。” 卢比奥表示，美国与中国均反对将霍尔木兹海峡军事化，同时也反对针对途经这一关键航道的船只设立收费制度。 卢比奥还说：“我们绝不会支持伊朗在霍尔木兹海峡实施收费制度，我们也不认为他们有权在国际水域布设水雷，因此，双方能在这一点上达成同盟，或者至少是达成共识是一件好事。” 与此同时，据英国一家海事机构5月14日通报，继一艘悬挂印度国旗的船只在阿曼沿海遇袭后，又有一艘船只在紧邻霍尔木兹海峡的阿联酋海岸附近被不明方劫持，目前正驶向伊朗水域。目前尚不清楚发动此次袭击的是何方势力。 此外，以色列军方5月14日通报称，黎巴嫩真主党（Hezbollah）发动的一次无人机袭击导致数名以色列平民受伤；数小时后，由美国居中斡旋的以色列与黎巴嫩双边会谈便在美国华盛顿正式开启。
5月15日首尔报道，韩国基准股指（Kospi）今天领涨亚太股市，创下8000点历史新高；投资者正密切关注美国总统特朗普与中国国家主席习近平之间进入第二天的关键性会谈。 韩国基准股市指数上涨逾 0.6%，升至 8000 点以上；与此同时，韩国小盘股指（Kosdaq）下跌 0.4%。 日本日经 225 指数今天上涨 0.89%，东证指数（Topix）则跳涨 1.18%。 在澳大利亚，标普/澳证 200 指数（S&P/ASX 200）今天上涨…
5月14日报道，美国虚拟移动网络服务商特朗普移动（Trump Mobile ）表示，其金色款手机已开始发货，此消息距离该公司首次公布这款手机的计划已过去近一年。 客户服务总部设立在美国密苏里州的圣路易斯的特朗普移动公司5月13日在一篇社交媒体帖文中写道：“T1 手机终于来了！！所有预购了 T1 手机的用户都将收到一封更新邮件。手机将于本周开始发货！！！” 特朗普移动公司发布公告之际，这款售价 499 美元的手机此前正遭遇上市延误；该公司去年曾表示，由于美国政府停摆，该手机的上市计划已被推迟。此外，消费者也表达了担忧，因为该公司在今年 4 月更新了预购条款，称支付 100 美元的定金“并不保证设备最终会被生产出来或上架供购买”。 该公司首席执行官奥布莱恩（Pat…
5月14日华盛顿报道，美国疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）表示，截至今天，美国境内尚无汉坦病毒（hantavirus）确诊病例；目前该机构正在全美范围内对41人进行该病毒的监测。 美国疾控中心指出，尽管此前在一艘游轮上爆发了疫情，但普通民众面临的风险依然较低。该中心建议那些正接受监测的人员居家隔离，并在42天内避免与他人接触。 美国疾控中心汉坦病毒应对工作组的事件负责人菲特（David Fitter）博士在一次媒体吹风会上介绍称，接受监测的人员主要分为三大类：近期被遣返、目前身处内布拉斯加州和亚特兰大的乘客；在疫情被确认前已下船并返家的乘客；以及在旅途中可能接触过病毒的人员，“特别是那些曾与有症状病例同乘航班的人员”。 世界卫生组织（WHO）报告称，与此次疫情相关的汉坦病毒病例共计11例，其中8例经实验室检测确诊，包括3例死亡病例。 此次汉坦病毒的传播引发了人们对潜在全球卫生危机的担忧，毕竟距离新冠疫情（Covid-19）带来的毁灭性打击才过去短短几年。然而，公共卫生专家强调，此次疫情爆发带来的风险是有限的；他们同时指出，此次疫情不太可能引发大规模的公共卫生紧急状况。 此次疫情涉及的汉坦病毒属于“安第斯株”（Andes strain）。与新冠、麻疹和流感等其他疾病不同，这种汉坦病毒不易在人与人之间传播。 尽管如此，专家们指出，由于该病毒潜伏期较长，未来几周内仍有可能出现更多确诊病例。 一些公共卫生专家认为，美国在应对汉坦病毒传播方面的表现暴露出其在应对下一次卫生危机时的准备工作存在漏洞，这种应对能力因疾控中心的人员裁减以及特朗普政府此前决定退出世界卫生组织而受到了削弱。 汉坦病毒，属于布尼亚病毒目汉坦病毒科正汉坦病毒属成员，是具有包膜且分节段的负链单股核糖核酸病毒，为汉坦病毒肺综合征（HPS）和肾综合征出血热（HFRS）的病原体。汉坦病毒经由啮齿目动物传染给人类而引起可致命传染病，因此被列为生物性危害第三级病毒。安第斯病毒是目前已知唯一可在人与人之间传播的汉坦病毒。这种传播通常仅限于与患者有过密切接触的人群。