COVID in California: More than 40% of Americans lied about infection

Statue of Liberty’s crown reopens to visitors

Visitors can reserve tickets to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty starting today, marking the first time the attraction has reopened to the public since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020, according to the national monument’s authorized concessioner Hornblower. The grounds of Liberty Island reopened in July 2020 and the observation deck of the statue opened to 50% capacity a year later, drawing some 1.6 million visitors, the National Park Service said. Now people can once again climb the additional 162 steps to take in the view from the very top of Lady Liberty’s head.

More than 40% of Americans lied about infection, survey finds

More than four in 10 Americans surveyed report that they misled others about whether they had COVID-19 in order to “feel normal” and avoid restrictions, according to a nationwide study that appears in the Oct. 10 issue of JAMA Network Open. Many respondents were reluctant to accurately report their health status so they could avoid masking, social distancing, or quarantining, according to the study. “COVID-19 safety measures can certainly be burdensome, but they work,” Dr. Andrea Gurmankin Levy, a professor of social sciences at Middlesex Community College in Connecticut and co-lead author of the study, said in a statement.

In the survey, conducted in December 2021, more than 1,700 people from across the country were asked to reveal whether they had ever misrepresented their COVID-19 status, or vaccination status, or told others that they were following public health measures when they actually weren’t. About 42% of the participants reported misrepresentation or nonadherence to COVID safety measures. The researchers found no association between COVID-19 misrepresentation and political beliefs, political party affiliation, or religion. “When people are dishonest about their COVID-19 status or what precautions they are taking, it can increase the spread of disease in their community,” Levy said. “For some people, particularly before we had COVID vaccines, that can mean death.”

40,000 children’s cases reported last week

There were 40,656 confirmed child COVID-19 cases in the U.S. last week, according to data published Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, down from 55,034 reported two weeks earlier. Children represented 14.3% of all weekly reported cases nationwide last week. Pediatric vaccine uptake remains slow, with just 9% of children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years old receiving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. About 31% of 5 to 11 year-olds and 58% of 12 to 17 year-olds have completed their two-dose primary vaccination series. 

Scientists racing to understand link between COVID and pregnancy complications 

Rising rates of preeclampsia — a potentially dangerous pregnancy complication — jumped during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by the Washington Post. It was one of several COVID-era pregnancy issues, including stillbirths, that scientists are studying to better understand the link between the pandemic and reproductive health. Answers have so far proven elusive.

Multiple Chinese cities reinstate lockdowns, travel bans

Several cities in China reinstated COVID-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions following a surge in new coronavirus cases, the Associated Press reported. The spike in new reported infections followed a week-long holiday and preceded a Communist Party meeting in Beijing, set to take place next week. Fenyang, a city in northern China, issued a lockdown that began on Monday. Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia region, announced that no outside vehicles would be allowed to enter the city starting Tuesday. The city has tallied more than 2,000 cases in about 12 days, the AP reported.

White House urges Americans to get bivalent boosters before holidays 

Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House’s COVID-19 coordinator, said at a recent media briefing that Americans should get updated, bivalent booster shots ahead of the upcoming holiday season, ideally before Halloween.  “Our message is very simple: Don’t wait. Get vaccinated. Go get vaccinated now; get it before Halloween so you are ready before Thanksgiving and Christmas and the holidays,” Jha said, according to a CNN report. Jha’s remarks come amid rising concerns about a potential surge in coronavirus cases over the holidays, when millions of Americans will gather indoors.