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Covid-19 deaths are spiking in the United States, reaching daily levels not seen since May, according to a CNBC analysis of data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The CDC is now urging Americans against traveling for Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Pfizer and BioNTech said they will apply today for emergency use authorization from the FDA for their Covid vaccine. CNBC's Meg Tirrell tells us what's next. You can also check out Meg's exclusive interview with Biden Covid Advisory Board Member Dr. Michael Osterholm in our latest Heathy Returns livestream, where they answer some of the biggest Covid-related questions heading into the holidays.
| | 90% was so last week. Pfizer & Moderna vaccines show 95% efficacy | Moderna gave us another vaccine Monday, with its interim efficacy clocking in at 94.5%. Pfizer followed up swiftly with its final efficacy results, at 95%. Both vaccines appeared to protect against severe Covid-19, considered especially important by health experts for the vaccines to help cut down on the risk of hospitalization. Next up, the FDA review process. We learned from two sources familiar with the FDA's plans that it's asked its group of advisors to hold Dec. 8, 9 and 10 for potential meetings, a key step before the regulator might authorize the vaccines for market. AstraZeneca and J&J's vaccine trial results are expected within the next weeks to months.
-Meg Tirrell | | | | WHO tells doctors not to use Gilead's remdesivir as a Covid treatment | A WHO panel advised doctors against using Gilead Sciences' antiviral drug remdesivir as a treatment for patients hospitalized with Covid-19, saying there is currently "no evidence" that it improves survival or shortens recovery time — standing in stark contrast to FDA guidance on the drug. Some medical experts note data on the drug's effectiveness has been mixed. In October, a study coordinated by the WHO indicated that the medication had "little or no effect" on death rates among hospitalized patients. Gilead has publicly questioned the findings of the WHO study, adding that it is "disappointed" the WHO is ignoring favorable evidence.
-Berkeley Lovelace Jr. | | | | CDC breaks silence, urges Americans against traveling for Thanksgiving | The CDC, in its first official public briefing since August, this week advised Americans not to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Dr. Henry Walke, the CDC's Covid-19 incident manager, said the agency is "alarmed" about the "exponential rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths." He said now is the time for Americans to "redouble" their efforts and continue to practice infection prevention protocol. Walke said the CDC intends to hold more regular briefings about the state of the pandemic going forward. Critics have called on the CDC and its director, Dr. Robert Redfield, to take a more high-profile position in the nation's response to the pandemic as cases, hospitalizations and deaths all continue to rise.
-Will Feuer | | | | State and city leaders impose targeted restrictions to curb Covid ahead of holidays | As the coronavirus seeps into nearly every corner of the U.S., a handful of states and cities are closing nonessential businesses, limiting public and private gatherings and imposing mask mandates to try to slow the rapid spread ahead of the winter season. Many governors and mayors have made it clear, however, that they don't want to shut down the economy again like many did in March and April at the outset of the outbreak. Democrat governors in Washington, Oregon and New Mexico have imposed more sweeping measures, banning indoor dining and placing limits on gatherings. Some Republican leaders in Iowa, North Dakota and Utah, many of whom have long resisted statewide mask requirements, are now ordering residents to wear face coverings in public. "Instead of this on-and-off switch, we need to be thinking about this like a dimmer switch or a dial..." Dr. Celine Gounder, a coronavirus advisor to President-elect Joe Biden, told me in an interview.
-Noah Higgins-Dunn | | | | The Amazon Fear Factor is like a powerful drug | It's likely no coincidence Amazon launched its pharmacy the morning of Walmart's earnings – they're taking aim at the price-conscious consumer. Ironically, when Walmart shook up pharmacy prices with flat rate generics more than a decade ago, the move shook up the drugstore chains. This time, they have already shifted their business models. In the two years since Amazon bought PillPack, they've increased the role of their pharmacists in offering in-store services. Amazon's real aim, for now, is taking mail-order market share from CVS Health, Cigna and UnitedHealth's PBMs.
-Bertha Coombs | | | | GoodRx CEO: Amazon won't crush us | Meantime news of Amazon's Prime pharmacy discount program hit GoodRx hard – almost sending the stock below its IPO price over two days. But CEO Doug Hirsch told me that the market is getting it all wrong. During this week's CNBC Disruptor 50 Summit he says GoodRx is working with Amazon pharmacy. You can listen to him talk about this first big challenge since going public here.
-Bertha Coombs | | | | Covid reinfection 'highly unlikely' for at least six months, Oxford study says | Those who have contracted the coronavirus are "highly unlikely" to get the disease again for at least six months, according to the findings of a new study. Researchers say the findings are an important step in understanding how Covid-19 immunity may work. "This is really good news, because we can be confident that, at least in the short term, most people who get COVID-19 won't get it again," said Professor David Eyre of the University of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Population Health. The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was part of a collaboration between the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
-Sam Meredith | ![]() | | @Work Spotlight | December 10, 2020
Our Faster Future: Powering the Work of Tomorrow, Today
This year has proven that work can be done from anywhere at any time, and connectivity has proven most critical for the success of any organization. Now, realization of 5G will not only provide higher speeds, but offers opportunities to enhance communication and collaboration, advance technologies and revolutionize work across entire industries.
In this @Work Spotlight event, hear from and interact with the business leaders prepared to propel into this new, transformative era of work and innovation.
Featuring:
Barbara Humpton, Siemens USA President and CEO
Paul Jacobs, XCOM Chairman and CEO
Diane Rinaldo, Beacon Global Strategies Senior Vice President
David Grain, Grain Management Founder and CEO
Debra Lam, Georgia Tech Managing Director, Smart Cities and Inclusive Innovation
Jahmy Hindman, Deere & Company Chief Technology Officer
Lindsey Parker, Washington, DC Government Chief Technology Officer
Kara Swisher, Recode Co-founder and Editor-at-Large
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