LiveScience -
November 4, 2020
A group of researchers at MIT recently developed an artificial intelligence model that can detect asymptomatic COVID-19 cases by listening to subtle differences in coughs between healthy people and infected people. … The AI model correctly identified 98.5% of people with COVID-19, and correctly ruled out COVID-19 in 94.2% of people without the disease. For asymptomatic people, the model correctly identifed 100% of people with COVID-19, and correctly ruled out COVID-19 in 83.2% of people without the disease.
CNBC -
November 4, 2020
Cellular, or “T-cell,” immunity against Covid-19 is likely to be present within most adults six months after primary infection, a new study said. Research by the U.K. Coronavirus Immunology Consortium (UK-CIC), Public Health England and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has found “robust T-cell responses” to the coronavirus six months after infection. T-cells are a part of our immune system that attack cells which have been infected with a virus or other kind of pathogen and they help other antibody-producing cells in the immune system.
Bloomberg -
November 4, 2020
As a resurgent coronavirus sweeps across Europe and the U.S., some health experts are calling for a “cluster-busting” approach to contact tracing like the one Japan and other countries in Asia have used with success. Rather than simply tracking down the contacts of an infected person and isolating them, proponents advocate finding out where the individual caught Covid-19 in the first place. That extra step, known as backward tracing, exploits a weak spot of the virus — the tendency for infections to occur in clusters, often at super-spreading events.
ABC News -
November 4, 2020
Lax enforcement and observation of health protocols are just one part of COVID fatigue; the mental health toll is another. Prolonged grief and major depressive disorder, as well as symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, are a concern, medical professionals recently noted in JAMA. … In the face of COVID fatigue, people are continually urged to not let their guard down. But how can public health officials accomplish this?
Reuters -
November 3, 2020
The number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States hit another record high last week, rising 18% to more than 575,000, while deaths inched up 3%, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county reports. The number of new cases reported each week has risen for four straight weeks, with the biggest increases seen in the last two weeks.
TODAY -
November 3, 2020
More than 61,000 children in the U.S. were diagnosed with COVID-19 last week — more than in any other week during the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association reported Monday. In all, 853,635 children have been diagnosed with the virus this year, representing 11.1% of all U.S. cases. The percentage of pediatric cases has risen steadily since mid-April, when children accounted for just 2% of COVID-19 cases in the country.
TIME -
November 3, 2020
The seven points include: Testing as many people per day as are currently tested per week by doubling the number of testing sites in the U.S. … Ramping up production of personal protective equipment like masks and face shields. … Working with the U.S. CDC to produce clear guidance for businesses, schools and other facilities trying to reopen, accompanied by government funding for businesses, schools and state and local governments. … Creating (and investing $25 billion in) a vaccine production-and-distribution plan that ensures free and equitable access, while allowing scientists to clearly communicate progress with the public. …
Kaiser Health News -
November 3, 2020
California law protects the rights of voters who are in the hospital or other care facilities, or confined at home. It allows them to get help from anyone they choose — other than an employer or a union representative — and to cast an emergency ballot. At least 37 other states allow emergency voting for medical reasons, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But practices vary.
TIME -
November 3, 2020
Contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy may put expectant mothers at a higher risk of delivering early, according to new data from the U.S. CDC. The CDC’s new report is based on data from almost 4,500 people who were diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy and provided public health departments with information about their pregnancy outcomes. Roughly 3,900 mothers gave information about their baby’s gestational age. Within that group, nearly 13% of babies (about 500) were born preterm—slightly but significantly higher than the 2019 national rate of about 10%.
AP -
November 3, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic surges across the nation and infections and hospitalizations rise, medical administrators are scrambling to find enough nursing help — especially in rural areas and at small hospitals. Nurses are being trained to provide care in fields where they have limited experience. Hospitals are scaling back services to ensure enough staff to handle critically ill patients. And health systems are turning to short-term travel nurses to help fill the gaps.
HealthDay -
November 3, 2020
Hispanic Americans have a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including ending up in intensive care and dying, than non-Hispanic white people, a new study finds. The risk is especially high among patients who are both Black and Hispanic. … Hispanic Blacks had the highest rate of co-existing health problems (51%) and hospitalizations (45%). Hispanic/multiracial patients were more often admitted to the intensive care unit (10%) and had the highest incidence of requiring mechanical ventilation (10%). They also had higher death rates due to COVID-19 (16%).
HealthDay -
November 3, 2020
Using data collected between March and August on hospitalizations in Austin, Texas, researchers found that construction workers were five times more likely than people in other occupations to be hospitalized with COVID-19. Their greater vulnerability is probably because construction work continued throughout the pandemic, even during stay-at-home orders and other community-wide public health measures, the study authors suggested.
Pew Research -
November 3, 2020
As states mount large-scale contact tracing efforts to identify and isolate those who have contracted COVID-19, a Pew Research Center survey conducted in July finds that Americans have a variety of views that could complicate the ongoing efforts of public health authorities battling the outbreak. On the one hand, majorities of Americans say they would be at least somewhat comfortable or likely to engage with some parts of contact tracing programs … Yet the survey also shows that portions of Americans could be hard to reach and relatively uncomfortable engaging with public health officials as part of the contact tracing process related to the coronavirus outbreak.
CNN -
November 3, 2020
Three weeks after Canadians celebrated their Thanksgiving holiday, the country is seeing a national spike in cases. Several cities and provinces have shattered single day records for coronavirus infections, and Canada's top doctors say the holiday -- held on October 12 -- is partly to blame. … Now, the US may be on the verge of repeating Canada's same fate, as Americans begin making plans for their holiday that is quickly approaching.
CBS News -
November 3, 2020
Employers, insurers and Medicare have made changes in an effort to respond to COVID-19 and consumers themselves are looking at their benefits, particularly health insurance, with a more jaundiced eye. About 70% of employees say they will take more time to review benefits as a result of the pandemic than they did during the last enrollment period, according to a survey from financial planning firm Voya.
Fox News -
November 3, 2020
The FDA on Friday warned against purchasing or using an oxygen concentrator at home without a valid prescription as it can lead to serious health problems such as oxygen toxicity. The regulatory agency said that the product may be available for sale online, but that such products have not been approved by the FDA for non-prescription use.