WV and National Disaster News - May 5, 2021

5/5/2021

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West Virginia

Government News

WV Daily COVID Update & Stats for May 5, 2021 (WVDHHR)

DHHR has confirmed the deaths of a 51-year old male from Wood County, a 91-year old male from Cabell County, a 43-year old male from Hancock County, an 83-year old female from McDowell County, a 62-year old male from Raleigh County, a 71-year old female from Berkeley County, a 69-year old male from Kanawha County, an 86-year old male from Kanawha County, a 66-year old male from Logan County, an 89-year old female from Wood County, a 99-year old male from Kanawha County, and an 81-year old female from Wood County. See link above for other stats.

Local News

Marsh expresses concern about ‘shifting’ of the COVID-19 spread (MetroNews-Radio)

AUDIO: WV COVID Czar Addresses Rumors, Myths, Misinformation about Vaccines (WCBC-Radio)

COVID-19 herd immunity possible in West Virginia, but could take much longer, doctors say (WCHS-TV)

Putnam County Schools offering to vaccinate families (WSAZ-TV)

State now trailing nation in first dose vaccinations and vaccinations among seniors (The Exponent Telegram)

Kanawha County Health officer urges residents to get vaccinated (WOWK-TV)

West Virginia to take more COVID vaccines to where young people gather (WOWK-TV)

Increase in people wanting to address mental health since start of pandemic (WTAP-TV)

Capito Tours Clendenin To See Flood Recovery Efforts (West Virginia Public Broadcasting-Radio)

Eastern panhandle recovering from fierce storms at start of week (WDVM-TV)

Meteorologists will determine if Jefferson County damage was caused by tornado (MetroNews-Radio)

National News

COVID

US vaccination rates have been falling as the supply has increased (CNN)

Biden sets new vaccine goals as White House grapples with its message (Washington Post)

Highlights of Biden's vaccine goals:

Aims to have 70% of adults vaccinated by July 4^th (AP)
Unused coronavirus vaccine doses that states don't order will become available to other states.
If/when Food and Drug Administration determines the vaccines are safe for adolescents between 12 and 15, they will focus on getting that age group vaccinated.
Make it more convenient for everyone to get vaccinated, especially those in rural and hard-to-reach locations, like directing pharmacies to offer walk-in appointments, allocating funding for pop-up clinics, sending more doses to rural health clinics, among other moves.

CVS, Walgreens responsible for over 70% of wasted vaccine doses (NY Daily News)

CVS Says Covid-19 Vaccinations Slow as U.S. Rollout Runs Into Hesitancy (Wall Street Journal)

Pfizer Says FDA Will Soon Authorize COVID-19 Vaccine For 12-15 Age Group (NPR)

Pfizer scientist expects elderly, people with underlying conditions to be first to get COVID vaccine booster shots (CNBC)

'We're entering the harder phase' of coronavirus vaccination (Yahoo News)

With COVID Vaccines for Teens and Kids, Timing Matters (NY Times)

Merck Seeking to Help COVID Vaccine Manufacturers (Bloomberg)

Here's what breakthrough infections reveal about COVID-19 vaccines (Science News)

Time for the ethical management of COVID-19 vaccines (The Lancet Global Health)

India Crosses 20 Million COVID-19 Cases As Critical Shortages Worsen (NPR)

Weather

FEMA reaches deal with Phoenix property owners for emergency housing (KTVL-TV Oregon)