Note from the Editor: If you run into a paywall when you click an article, post a comment and let me know! I will post the entire article on the website.
Outbreak chart from today’s email is here
Featured Headlines
Los Angeles, California study backs Stanford researchers’ conclusion about high prevalence of COVID-19 – Palo Alto Online
USC researchers, who collaborated with Stanford, concluded that about 4% of Los Angeles County residents were infected with virus [Related Stanford Pre-Pub Study] [Related NYT Article]
Antibody surveys suggesting vast undercount of coronavirus infections may be unreliable – Science
Surveying large swaths of the public for antibodies to the new coronavirus promises to show how widespread undiagnosed infections are, how deadly the virus really is, and whether enough of the population has become immune for social distancing measures to be eased. But the first batch of results has generated more controversy than clarity. [Related pre-pub study]
Autopsies find first U.S. coronavirus death occurred in early February, weeks earlier than previously thought – Washington Post
Tissue samples taken during autopsies of two people who died at home in Santa Clara County, Calif., tested positive for the virus, local health officials said in a statement. The victims died on Feb. 6 and Feb. 17, respectively. [if you hit a paywall, try here]
U.K.’s COVID-19 death toll could be 40 percent higher than daily figure, data suggests – NBC News
Britain’s true death toll could be above 23,000 based on the latest data — making it the second worst hit in Europe after Italy.
Inequities in COVID-19: why does COVID-19 hit some areas harder than others? – FLARE
As the COVID-19 outbreak progresses in the U.S., it is becoming clear that communities are not equally affected. Racial and socioeconomic disparities in incidence are apparent in highly impacted communities, such as New York and Boston, as well as outside the Northeast, in places like Charlotte, Chicago, and the Navajo Nation.
In addition to disparate incidence of disease, disadvantaged communities face higher rates of co–morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension that are known to contribute to poor outcomes in COVID-19. Some of these communities with elevated rates of high-risk health conditions have greater proportions of uninsured residents, which may lead to under-financed and under-resourced healthcare systems, ill-prepared for a COVID-19 patient surge.
NIH Posts Updated COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines
These Treatment Guidelines have been developed to inform clinicians how to care for patients with COVID-19. Because clinical information about the optimal management of COVID-19 is evolving quickly, these Guidelines will be updated frequently as published data and other authoritative information becomes available.
Dialysis Industry Ramping Up to Support Hospitals Slammed by COVID-19 – Med Page Today
Industry is responding to an exploding need for dialysis equipment and supplies at hospitals in COVID-19 surge areas, stepping up production and creating a reserve pool of dialysis machines to be shifted around the country based on need.
After The ICU, Many COVID-19 Survivors Face A Long Recovery – NPR
On April 8, David Williams got a standing ovation as he was wheeled out of the John L. McClellan Memorial Veteran’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. Williams, 54, a Marine Corps veteran, had survived eight perilous days on a ventilator with COVID-19, and the hospital staff had lined up to give him a joyous, fist-bumping send-off.
COVID-19 Coronavirus: How Long Are You Contagious And Do Symptoms Last? – Forbes
If you’ve been infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus and managed to survive, you may be wondering how long your symptoms will last and how long you will remain contagious. After all, isolating yourself can be as enjoyable as bouncing toilet paper rolls off your head, which, by the way, you shouldn’t do.
Solving the Mysteries of Coronavirus with Genetic Fingerprints – New York Times
As the coronavirus outbreak consumed the city of Wuhan in China, new cases of the virus began to spread out like sparks flung from a fire. Some landed thousands of miles away. By the middle of January, one had popped up in Chicago, another one near Phoenix. Two others came down in the Los Angeles area. Thanks to a little luck and a lot of containment, those flashes of the virus appear to have been snuffed out before they had a chance to take hold. [If you hit a paywall at the link, try here]
Surveillance
Official Reporting for April 22, 2020
| WHO SITREP #92 | ECDC | Country Data | Johns Hopkins | |
| Confirmed Cases | 2,397,217 | 2,520,522 | 2,594,724 |
| Deaths | 162,956 | 176,786 | 179,778 |
Total deaths: 41,758
EUROPE
Russia: Reported 5,642 new cases. CIDRAP
Belarus: Reported 459 new cases, no social distancing orders in place. CIDRAP
Germany: Announced the cancellation of Oktoberfest, the world’s largest outdoor festival in September. CIDRAP
Italy: New cases in Lombardy region as businesses remain open. CIDRAP
Spain: Reports 32,788 health care workers have been infected, about 15% of total illnesses, possibly due to shortage of PPE in the beginning of the outbreak. CIDRAP
France: May 11 social distancing measures will be gradually lifted. CIDRAP
ASIA
What Is the Coronavirus Doing to North Korea? – NYT
Science and Tech
UK researchers to trial Covid-19 vaccine and plasma therapy – clinicaltrialsarena
Researchers at the University of Southampton in the UK have announced plans to conduct a clinical trial of a vaccine candidate against Covid-19. The trial will enrol up to 510 healthy participants aged 18 to 55, including nearly 187 volunteers.
Vaccine
‘Important milestone’: Germany to start first clinical tests on coronavirus vaccine – The Local
The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) has authorised the first clinical trial of a vaccine against Covd-19 in Germany. The biotech firm is working with the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer for the development of the vaccine.
Diagnostics
Study Raises Questions About False Negatives From Quick COVID-19 Test – NPR
Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic tested 239 specimens known to contain the coronavirus using five of the most commonly used coronavirus tests.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First Test for Patient At-Home Sample Collection – FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for COVID-19. Specifically, the FDA re-issued the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) COVID-19 RT-PCR Test to permit testing of samples self-collected by patients at home using LabCorp’s Pixel by LabCorp COVID-19 Test home collection kit.
Published Research
CT imaging analysis of 33 cases with the 2019 novel coronavirus infection – Europe PMC
Covid-19 and Immunity in Aging Populations — A New Research Agenda – NEJM
Description and Proposed Management of the Acute COVID-19 Cardiovascular Syndrome – AHA
Clinical features of covid-19 – BMJ
COVID-19 Respiratory Failure – ASAIO Journal/Sweden
Pre-Pub (not yet peer reviewed, should not be regarded as conclusive)
Outcomes of hydroxychloroquine usage in United States veterans hospitalized with Covid-19 – MedRxiv
Infection Prevention
Steam Clean Checks Out for N95 Sterilization – Med Page Today
Steam sterilization may work for decontaminating N95 respirators [Related Study]
Coping in Quarantine
Examining the social impact of Covid-19 – MIT
Survey from the Saxe Lab aims to measure the toll of social isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Is your mask fogging your glasses? Tips from the front line workers – NYT (reposting from yesterday, was informed that some readers could not access)
Netflix’s Top 250 Best Movies To Watch In Lockdown – Forbes
Just finished watching Ozark at our house, highly recommend! If you have already watched Ozark, you may enjoy this short infomercial by Ruth Langmore on how to improve your criminal skills. Warning: It’s Ruth Langmore, so there are F bombs at the link.