Another Vexing Variant; Europe Closing Schools; Fla. Whistleblower Arrested

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Yet another new coronavirus variant has been identified — this one in a Bavarian German ski town. (Politico)

Even when an Italian virologist identifies the United Kingdom COVID-19 variation early, national governments in Europe and the U.S. do not conduct enough genomic surveillance to address such mutations. (Washington Post)

The unofficial U.S. COVID-19 toll increased to 24,079,204 cases and 399,003 deaths of 8:00 a.m. ET Tuesday — representing an average daily toll of about 209,000 and 3,250, respectively, over the past 7 days.

Another House member tests positive after a COVID shot: Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), who said he was not experiencing symptoms; he had not yet received his second dose. (LA Times)

The Washington Post identified five well-known anti-vaccine groups that have spread misinformation about the coronavirus and have now received Paycheck Protection Program loans.

European nations are closing schools as case numbers rise and the U.K. variant spreads amidst lockdowns. (Wall Street Journal)

California providers have been told to halt administering one lot of Moderna’s vaccine — about 330,000 doses — after more people than expected developed allergic reactions. (KTLA)

Rebekah Jones, the Florida data scientist who said she was fired after refusing to manipulate COVID data, turned herself in to police to face charges she hacked into a state computer system. (CBS)

Independent reviewer said the World Health Organization should have declared an international emergency before Jan. 30 and Chinese officials could have been more forceful early on to address the initial COVID-19 outbreak. (Reuters)

In other news:

• President-elect Biden has selected Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine as assistant health secretary in HHS — she’d be the first openly transgender person to take a position requiring Senate confirmation. (Associated Press)
• A Mississippi businessman was sentenced to 18 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $288 million after pleading guilty to defrauding healthcare benefit programs. (Department of Justice)
• Nestle recalled some pepperoni Hot Pockets that may be contaminated with pieces of glass and hard plastic. (CNN)

Last Updated January 19, 2021