Covid-19
Conflicting results from 2 randomized trials testing Tocilizumab for Covid-19
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:48h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Why do 2 randomized trials of tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 blocker, for severe covid-19, have opposite results?
Today @NEJMhttps://t.co/g8LCrhhpLyhttps://t.co/BcN3wOwsl0 pic.twitter.com/sLrQUYI1pf— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) February 25, 2021
WHO Report: Preparing for Long COVID 2021
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCIn the wake of the pandemic: preparing for Long COVID (2021) – World Health Organization
Commentaries: Long COVID sufferer still has disease’s debilitating symptoms nearly a year after first falling ill – EuroNews AND Debilitating ‘long-COVID’ may have severe health, social impacts: WHO – Reuters
Related: Dr. Fauci says new data suggests ‘long’ Covid symptoms can last up to 9 months – CNBC
CDC studies on superspreading events at fitness facilities
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:44h | UTCCommentaries: Going maskless is a key factor in Covid-19 outbreaks at gyms, studies say – CNN AND A Chicago gym saw dozens of COVID-19 cases after infected people attended HIIT classes without masks – Insider
Differences in characteristics and outcomes of children and adolescents with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) vs. severe acute COVID-19
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:43h | UTCCommentary: Studies help discern severe COVID from related kids’ syndrome – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter
In this case series using national MIS-C registry data, kids w MIS-C were younger (6-12 y), more likely to be non-Hispanic Black, & have severe CV or mucocutaneous involvement and more extreme inflammation vs kids w severe #COVID19 https://t.co/jmCCDPXLmf @BostonChildrens
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) February 25, 2021
New protocol tested SARS-CoV-2 positivity on day 9 among quarantined student contacts of confirmed cases, resulting in safe reduction in loss of instructional time
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:42h | UTCCommentary: Is the CDC 10-day COVID-19 quarantine guideline enough? – News Medical
Commentary on Twitter
In this study of a 9-day testing protocol for student contacts of confirmed #COVID19 cases in 1 Florida county, a reduction in loss of instructional time was found that was less than what would have occurred with 14-day quarantine https://t.co/YPft2oAvYk
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) February 19, 2021
COVID-19 hospitalizations attributable to cardiometabolic conditions
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:40h | UTCCommentary: Study estimates two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations due to four conditions – Tufts University
Commentary on Twitter
Our new research suggests 63% of US hospitalizations for COVID may have been prevented, due to less severe illness, if we had a metabolically healthy population. Biggest risk: obesity, responsible for 30% of excess hospitalizations. https://t.co/no8YhACf4E pic.twitter.com/4VPuHT0OPd
— Dariush Mozaffarian (@Dmozaffarian) February 25, 2021
Study finds increased COVID-19 mortality among adults with Down syndrome
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:39h | UTCCommentaries: Adults with Down syndrome 3 times more likely to die of COVID, study finds – CIDRAP AND International study finds increased COVID-19 mortality among adults with Down syndrome – Case Western Reserve University
Related: COVID-19 is 10 times deadlier for people with Down syndrome, raising calls for early vaccination – Science (a few articles per month are free)
Opinion – Catching COVID from surfaces is very unlikely. So perhaps we can ease up on the disinfecting
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCRelated: Coronavirus is in the air — there’s too much focus on surfaces – Nature AND COVID-19 rarely spreads through surfaces. So why are we still deep cleaning? – Nature
Real-world data confirms Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effectiveness
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:09h | UTCAudio Interview: The Real-World Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccination – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentaries: Real-world trial of Pfizer COVID vaccine finds high 2-dose, good 1-dose protection – CIDRAP AND Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine performs as well in the real world as in clinical trials, new study concludes – STAT AND In boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world – Reuters AND Expert reaction to NEJM paper on Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine roll-out in Israel and COVID-19 outcomes – Science Media Centre
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
1/
We've just confirmed the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine outside of randomized trials.Details @NEJM: https://t.co/POgXK8owvM
Yes, great news, but let's talk about methodological issues that arise when using #observational data to estimate vaccine effectiveness.
— Miguel Hernán (@_MiguelHernan) February 24, 2021
Ghana receives first historic shipment of COVID-19 vaccinations from international COVAX facility
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:12h | UTCSee also: Ghana becomes recipient of historic first shipment of COVAX vaccines – World Health Organization
Commentaries: Covax vaccine-sharing scheme delivers first doses to Ghana – BBC AND Covax delivers first Covid vaccines in ‘momentous occasion’ – The Guardian AND COVAX delivers its first vaccine shots with shipment to Ghana – Reuters
[Not published yet] Covid-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinopharm has an efficacy rate of 72.5 percent
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:07h | UTCSee also: Sinopharm’s Wuhan unit reports 72.5% efficacy for COVID shot, seeks approval in China – Reuters
Commentary on Twitter
The Sinopharm unit Wuhan Institute Of Biological Products Co said on Wednesday its COVID-19 vaccine had shown an efficacy rate of 72.51% against the disease in Phase III clinical trials, based on interim analysis. https://t.co/YTmV8xzyhF
— Reuters Health (@Reuters_Health) February 24, 2021
FDA scientists endorse J&J’s Covid vaccine, as new data shed light on efficacy
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:06h | UTCFDA scientists endorse J&J’s Covid vaccine, as new data shed light on efficacy – STAT
See also: FDA says single-dose shot from J&J prevents severe COVID – MedicalXpress
Massive Google-funded COVID database will track variants and immunity
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:03h | UTCMassive Google-funded COVID database will track variants and immunity – Nature
See also: Backed by Google, epidemiologists launch a sweeping Covid-19 data platform – STAT
Why COVID vaccines are so difficult to compare
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:02h | UTCWhy COVID vaccines are so difficult to compare – Nature
Interview: The scientist who’s been right about Covid-19 vaccines predicts what’s next
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:01h | UTCThe scientist who’s been right about Covid-19 vaccines predicts what’s next – Vox
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
*New from me* Of all the people I talk to on #covid19 vaccines, @hildabast is consistently the most insightful and correct.
In our conversation here, you can see why I think she's become a @zeynep of the pandemic vaccines:
https://t.co/c1T3ehXqix— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) February 24, 2021
Perspective: Coronavirus reinfection will soon become our reality
25 Feb, 2021 | 08:59h | UTCCoronavirus reinfection will soon become our reality – The Atlantic (a few articles per month are free)
Opinion: Importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions in lowering the viral inoculum to reduce susceptibility to infection by SARS-CoV-2 and potentially disease severity
25 Feb, 2021 | 08:57h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
New Personal View: Importance of non-pharmaceutical interventions in lowering the viral inoculum to reduce susceptibility to infection by #SARSCoV2 and potentially disease severity #COVID19 https://t.co/HqCalbFZcA pic.twitter.com/yU9Z2tXO0d
— The Lancet Infectious Diseases (@TheLancetInfDis) February 23, 2021
Why are COVID-19 case numbers dropping?
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:59h | UTCWhy Are COVID-19 Case Numbers Dropping? – HIV and ID Observations
We’re Just Rediscovering a 19th-Century Pandemic Strategy (Ventilation)
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:58h | UTCWe’re Just Rediscovering a 19th-Century Pandemic Strategy – The Atlantic
Study: Patients with severe COVID-19 might shed viable virus during prolonged periods of up to 4 weeks
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:56h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Different pattern of SARS-CoV-2 viability in mild cases (viral replication max 10 days) vs severe COVID-19: viable virus demonstrated up to 4 weeks even in the presence of high levels of neutralizing activityhttps://t.co/dhERkipKJ0
— Rafael Delgado (@derafaeldelgado) February 23, 2021
Educators may be more central drivers of Covid-19 in schools than students, CDC study finds
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:55h | UTCEducators may be more central drivers of Covid-19 in schools than students, CDC study finds – CNN
Commentary on Twitter
A new @CDCMMWR looks at #COVID19 in Georgia elementary schools. The study highlights that preventing infections in educators is an important part of stopping the spread of COVID-19 in schools. Learn more: https://t.co/UcpGxv5GYz. pic.twitter.com/2nA4YChmNO
— CDC (@CDCgov) February 22, 2021
Schools may see a burst of the common cold when they reopen, research suggests
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:51h | UTCSchools may see a burst of the common cold when they reopen, research suggests – STAT
How the COVID-19 pandemic will change the future of critical care
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:49h | UTCHow the COVID-19 pandemic will change the future of critical care – Intensive Care Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Will #COVID19 change critical care?
➡️approach to crises
➡️flexible #ICU capacity/staff & safer design
➡️efficient supply/use of PPE, devices, consumables, meds
➡️triage principles
➡️communication
➡️end‐of‐life
➡️#AI, registries, agile collaborative RCTshttps://t.co/0aWmhQxItm pic.twitter.com/qFZCi4eYwM— Intens Care Med (@yourICM) February 23, 2021
Perspective: Is one vaccine dose enough after COVID-19 infection?
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:47h | UTCIs One Vaccine Dose Enough After COVID-19 Infection? – NIH Director’s Blog
Related: France’s health authority recommends single vaccine shot for people who have had COVID-19
Musculoskeletal involvement of COVID-19: review of imaging
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:43h | UTCMusculoskeletal involvement of COVID-19: review of imaging – Skeletal Radiology
Commentaries: Radiological images confirm ‘COVID-19 can cause the body to attack itself’ – Northwestern University AND Imaging highlights COVID-19’s MSK manifestations – AuntMinnie