COVID-19 damages brain without infecting it, study suggests Brain abnormalities could explain the confusion and delirium of severe COVID-19. CIDRAP

Although SARS-CoV-2 probably does not infect the brain, it can damage it significantly, a new study of autopsies of 41 COVID-19 patients finds.

FDA orders troubled Baltimore J&J contractor to pause manufacturing Federal regulators ordered the embattled Emergent BioSolutions plant in Baltimore to stop producing new Johnson & Johnson vaccine material pending a completed inspection, the company said Monday. Nathaniel Weixel TheHill

Federal regulators ordered the embattled Emergent BioSolutions plant in Baltimore to stop producing new Johnson & Johnson vaccine material pending a completed inspection, the company said Monday. 

The race to untangle the secrets of rare, severe blood clots after Johnson & Johnson vaccination Making sense of rare, possibly related adverse events after vaccination can be notoriously tricky, but in this case, U.S. health officials have a blueprint. Carolyn Y. Johnson Washington Post

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... While it’s true that the virus variants are a significant public health concern, the unrelenting focus on each new variant has created undue alarm and a false impression that vaccines don’t protect us against the various variants that continue to emerge.

“I use the term ‘scariants,’” said Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research in La Jolla, Calif., referring to much of the media coverage of the variants. “Even my wife was saying, ‘What about this double mutant?’ It drives me nuts. People are scared unnecessarily. If you’re fully vaccinated, two weeks post dose, you shouldn’t have to worry about variants at all.”

India's capital to lock down amid explosive virus surge NEW DELHI (AP) — New Delhi imposed a weeklong lockdown Monday night to prevent the collapse of the Indian capital's health system, which authorities said had been pushed to its limit amid an... AP NEWS

NEW DELHI (AP) — New Delhi imposed a weeklong lockdown Monday night to prevent the collapse of the Indian capital’s health system, which authorities said had been pushed to its limit amid an explosive surge in coronavirus cases.

After fully vaccinating a majority of its population, Israel no longer requires people to wear masks outdoors Israelis went mask-free on Sunday as the effects of the country's aggressive COVID-19 vaccine rollout appear to take hold. Mia Jankowicz Business Insider

With more than half of its population fully vaccinated, Israel on Sunday dropped its outdoor mask mandate.

How Safe Are You From Covid When You Fly? As vaccines become widely available and restrictions are eased, millions of people are flying again, raising questions about just how safe it is now to board a flight. The New York Times

More people are flying every day, as Covid restrictions ease and vaccinations accelerate. But dangerous variants have led to deadly new outbreaks, raising questions about just how safe it is to travel now.

In most single-aisle models, you are constantly breathing a mixture of fresh and recirculated air. ...