While many experts would say the pandemic is not over—globally, we’re still tallying millions of new COVID-19 cases each week—the coronavirus is currently just one of multiple public-health concerns. Right now in the U.S., flu and RSV rates are also unusually high.
In their piece, Yamey, a professor of global health at Duke University, and Karan, an infectious-disease physician at Stanford University, argue those are two good reasons why masks still matter. “It is important for the public to know that community masking can help prevent the spread of a range of respiratory infections,” Yamey and Karan write.
Mask efficacy varies depending on the type of mask—respirators like N95s and KN95s work better than cloth or surgical masks—and the pathogen in question, and more research is needed to understand how widespread masking affects the spread of certain illnesses. But Yamey and Karan argue we already know enough to recommend that people mask up during peak respiratory disease season. In one recent study, researchers estimated that the end of in-school mask mandates in the Boston area led to an extra 45 COVID-19 cases per 1,000 students and staff.
In their piece, Yamey and Karan cite an analogy from psychologist Simon Nicholas Williams, who said we should think of masks like umbrellas. You wouldn’t bring one with you on a sunny day, but you’d want one when it’s raining.
Right now, as far as respiratory diseases are concerned, it’s pouring. And we already know what could help us all stay drier.
More than 635.1 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 9:50 A.M. today, and over 6.6 million people have died. On Nov. 13, there were 182,063 new cases and 437 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending, in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 10 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 97.9 million coronavirus cases as of 9:50 A.M. today. More than 1.07 million people have died. On Nov. 13, there were 2,034 new cases reported in the U.S., and 1 death was confirmed.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Nov. 14. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts,click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
With a possible winter surge looming, the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered a U.S. public-health emergency at least a little longer, Biden Administration officials told Reuters on Friday. Among other things, that designation enables people in the U.S. to keep getting free tests and vaccines and allows for more flexible regulations on telehealth.
After a slow start, the U.S.’bivalent booster campaign is picking up speed, NBC News reports. During the week ending Nov. 10, a record 5.1 million people in the U.S. got the new boosters, which target both older versions of the virus and currently circulating Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Only 32 million doses have been administered since the shots became available in September.
In other positive booster news, Moderna announced today that its bivalent booster generates 15 times more BA.4 and BA.5 antibodies than its original COVID-19 shot, which suggests it provides stronger protection against those currently spreading strains. Preliminary data also suggest the shot generates antibodies that can neutralize the newer BQ.1 variant, which is related to BA.5—but that response wasn’t as strong.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com. If you have specific questions you'd like us to answer, please send them to covidquestions@time.com.
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Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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