Canada Approves Pfizer Vaccine while United Kingdom Reports Allergic Reactions
According to the Associated Press, the Canadian Health Regulator has approved the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer. The country “is set receive up to 249,000 doses this month and Canadian officials expect to administer them within days.” (Rob Gillies, Associated Press)
This news came just one day after the United Kingdom began vaccinating citizens with the same vaccine, which TIME reports has resulted in a new warning by the chief of the U.K.’s medicines regulator. He reports two patients, both members of the National Health System and both having a history of severe allergic reactions, developed anaphylactic reactions after receiving the new vaccine.
Time further reports that “A summary of the regulator’s advice, seen by TIME, says that any person with a history of significant allergic reactions to vaccines, medicine or food should not receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. It also says that vaccinations should only be carried out in places where resuscitation facilities are available. (Billy Perrigo, TIME).
Westport Public Schools: 15 Cases, 45 Quarantined (12/09/20)
Despite two cases being added yesterday, the Westport Public Schools live COVID-19 Dashboard reports numbers are still in decline as they updated their numbers this morning, however the date still remains from yesterday.
Coffee An’ Donuts Missed by Locals, Re-Opens Tomorrow
Coffee An’ Donuts has served generations of Westporters their famous warm donuts, buttery pastries, and cheesy breakfast sandwiches from the classic horseshoe countertop. The living time-capsule of a restaurant sits among a newly updated Main Street shopping center and several new businesses, however many are happy that the shop and friendly staff haven’t changed a bit in decades.
Customers were reminded this week that even Coffee An’ isn’t invincible - the restaurant’s staff announced through a sign on the front door its temporary closure due to a COVID-19 exposure. This type of closure has been experienced by many area restaurants and stores, and allows for contact tracing, cleaning procedures, and proper quarantining. The message written on the back of a paper placemat served as a (literal) sign of the times.
However another sign later appeared on their front door: “We will open Thursday, Dec. 10th". Customers rejoiced, and are looking forward to the reopening tomorrow as they’ll patiently await their coffee, donuts, an’ conversation at one of the oldest, most resilient businesses on Main Street.
Westport Daily COVID-19 Cases Up 2; Deaths Unchanged
The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport has added 2 positive or probable COVID-19 cases, and has added 0 new death. This includes the data collected over the weekend.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 767 cases. Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 25 deaths.
Superintendent: 2 New COVID-19 Cases in 2 Schools
From Westport Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Scarice:
“Dear Westport Families and Staff,
In our efforts to remain transparent with reports of positive Covid-19 cases associated with our schools, we will continue to provide these updates as information is confirmed. As of the time I am writing to you this evening we have 4 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 from the following schools:
Bedford Middle School- 2
Staples High School - 2
Those impacted have been notified by school and District officials. As a reminder, families are asked to report positive of COVID-19 cases of students using our reporting voicemail or email regardless of whether the students are in remote or hybrid models of instruction. Please follow this link for more information on reporting.
Respectfully,
Thomas Scarice
Superintendent of Schools'“
Westport Public Schools: 16 Cases, 83 Quarantined - Hundreds of High School Students Staying Home
Westport Public Schools announced in their Daily COVID-19 Dashboard that they have 16 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the District, with 83 persons quarantined - showing a slow decline in cases and in quarantined individuals over the past several weeks.
This comes the morning after a Board of Education meeting that explained how hundreds of high school students have chosen to switch from the in-school, hybrid learning model to the at-home, distant learning model. The District reported data that suggests a safe school environment, but some high schoolers have said that the hybrid model is confusing, and that they’d rather the full-week at home than mixed days in-school.
Staples High School COVID-19 cases account for nearly 50% of the total district cases, while its quarantined individuals account for about 42% of the district’s total amount of persons quarantined.
Westport Daily COVID-19 Cases Up 23; Deaths Unchanged
The Westport-Weston Health District reports that Westport has added 23 positive or probable COVID-19 cases, and has added 0 new death. This includes the data collected over the weekend.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 765 cases. Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 25 deaths.
Dr. Scott Gottlieb Discusses Coronavirus, Vaccines, from Westport on Face the Nation
Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former FDA Commissioner and current Pfizer Board Member, was virtually interviewed from Westport on Sunday morning on CBS’ Face the Nation. Dr. Gottlieb, a Westport resident, discussed the future of the coronavirus crisis in the United States, and the upcoming plans to roll out vaccines. The interview described a hard reality to listeners that includes a worsening in coronavirus case numbers and death tolls, but also hope as vaccines are on the ground in some countries and ready to be dispersed.
He explained to host Margaret Brennan that “Things are going to continue to get worse for the next four to six weeks.” and continued to say that “We're not likely to see a peak in the number of infections until about the end of December, maybe into January.” (Dr. Scott Gottlieb, “Face the Nation”).
He continued later in the interview to describe the United Kingdom’s plan to begin vaccinating citizens as early as this Tuesday, with thousands possibly vaccinated in the first week, “They're [Pfizer coronavirus vaccines] now sitting in the United Kingdom ready to go, and they're going to start vaccinating probably on Tuesday. And UK authorities have said they may be able to vaccinate 8,000- 800,000 people in the first week.” (Dr. Scott Gottlieb, “Face the Nation”).