Upcoming Virtual Events:
- SARS-CoV-2 serological testing: What is it and what does it mean?
May 13 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm EDT - TARGETED NGS OF SARS-COV-2
May 13 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm EDT - EPA Expands Research on SARS-CoV-2 in the Environment
May 27 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm CDT
Details for registration on our website
Featured Headlines
Studies Have Found New Mutations in The Coronavirus. Here’s What That Means – Science Alert
For a virus, spreading for a few months and reaching more than 3 million hosts is a long time span to evolve and change. Some viruses – like influenza – mutate a lot, meaning that we need to update vaccines yearly to remain on top of the spread of seasonal flu. Meanwhile, the coronavirus that has caused the current COVID-19 pandemic has stayed relatively stable, and it seems to be mutating much more slowly than influenza. [Related paper] [Related pre-print]
Latest evidence on obesity and COVID-19 – Medical News Today
A summary of the evidence so far suggests that obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and complications of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), independent of other illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease.
New Data on Protective Immunity after COVID-19 – FLARE
- The world is eager for an “immunity test” for SARS-CoV-2, but the level and duration of protective immunity after recovery from COVID-19 remain to be defined.
- Protective immunity depends on both production of antibodies by B cells and development of virus-specific T cell responses.
- A new paper suggests not only that SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies are detected in convalescent subjects, but that, in most of these individuals, antibodies are neutralizing and there is also evidence of a virus-specific T cell response.
- While more work is needed, these results continue to provide assurance that natural infection will confer protective immunity, and that future vaccination may be effective.
The patients who just can’t shake off Covid-19 – BBC
Part of the problem is that so much about the coronavirus is unknown, including why some people experience relatively mild symptoms lasting a few days, while other perfectly healthy people are left struggling for weeks.
Asthma and COVID-19 Risk: Good, Bad or Indifferent? – Medical News Today
CDC says condition increases risk of severe outcomes; emerging evidence suggests otherwise. [Related Study]
Symptoms of a rare inflammatory condition have been identified in at least 15 children in New York City hospitals, alarming pediatricians across the country and raising concerns about a possible link to the coronavirus.
A Cardiologist, COVID-19, and His 2-Inch Brain Infarct – Medical News Today
“When they said stroke, that blew me away,” said the 49-year-old physician who says he had no stroke risk factors. Imaging revealed a 5-cm cerebellar infarct. [Related NEJM Study]
Podcast: How to break America’s covid-19 testing bottleneck – MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review’s Antonio Regalado explains the reasons why the US is still behind on testing, and outlines promising schemes to fix the problem at scale.
How chloroquine, coronavirus duke it out inside a dish – Stanford Medicine
A pair of closely related drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, have gotten tons of attention, but so far, at best, mixed results in clinical trials for treating COVID-19
New Studies Add to Evidence that Children May Transmit the Coronavirus – NYT
Experts said the new data suggest that cases could soar in many U.S. communities if schools reopen soon. [Related Study]
The unreal dichotomy in COVID-19 mortality between high-income and developing countries – Brookings
Low-income and lower-middle income countries (LICs and LMICs) account for almost half of the global population but they make up only 2 percent of the global death toll attributed to COVID-19.
Disease Experts Expand The List Of Coronavirus Symptoms – NPR
It’s not just a fever and dry cough. For milder cases of COVID-19, symptoms can include headaches and fatigue, loss of smell or taste, and even red, purple or pink bumps and a rash on toes.
Official Reporting for May 6, 2020
| WHO SITREP #106 | ECDC | Country Data | Johns Hopkins | |
| Confirmed Cases | 3,517,345 | 3,623,803 | 3,711,425 |
| Deaths | 243,401 | 256,880 | 259,796 |
Total deaths: 68,279
Surveillance Headlines
USA
USA: What Is the Real Coronavirus Toll in Each State? – NYT
Iowa: Iowa reports record COVID-19 deaths, lists meatpacking site outbreaks – Local News
Colorado: Coronavirus Plasma Treatment Recipient Dies From Virus – Colorado Public Radio
EUROPE
France: COVID-19 detected in France in late December – CIDRAP
Germany: Germany reopens shops as lockdown is relaxed – BBC
MIDDLE EAST
Israel: Develops method to track SARS-CoV-2 virus through sewage system – Smart Water Magazine
Pakistan: Imams Overrule Pakistan’s Coronavirus Lockdown as Ramadan Nears – NYT
ASIA
India: Loosens Its Strict Lockdown, Coronavirus Deaths Jump Sharply – NYT
AFRICA
Science and Tech
Twist Bioscience Identifies Competitive Antibodies For Sars-Cov-2 – Retuers
Functional antibodies identified to S1 spike protein and ACE2 cellular receptor
Vaccine
Sugary Camouflage on Coronavirus Offers Vaccine Clues – Quanta Magazine
In the fight against viruses and other pathogens, scientists are looking beyond genes and proteins to the complex sugars, or glycans, on cell surfaces.
Antivirals
An emerging antiviral takes aim at COVID-19 – Chemical and Engineering News
EIDD-2801 wasn’t designed to fight the novel coronavirus, but its chemistry might make it an ideal weapon in this pandemic and the next
Therapeutics
Hepatitis C drug may help fight coronavirus suggests study – The Statesman
The results are also supported by the fact that both SARS-CoV-2 and the hepatitis C virus are a virus of the same type, a so-called single-stranded RNA virus.
Diagnostics
Published Research
Changes in contact patterns shape the dynamics of the COVID-19 outbreak in China – Science
New understanding of the damage of SARS-CoV-2 infection outside the respiratory system –
SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection – The Lancet
Pre-Pub (not yet peer reviewed, should not be regarded as conclusive)
First case of placental infection with SARS-CoV-2 – MedRXiv
Spike mutation pipeline reveals the emergence of a more transmissible form of SARS-CoV-2 – BioRXiv
Supply Chain Impact
Iowa Meat Packing Plant COVID-19 Cases:
- The Tyson Foods plant in Columbus Junction with 221 positive cases with 26 percent of its employees tested.
- Iowa Premium National Beef in Tama with 258 positive cases with 39 percent of its employees tested.
- The Tyson Foods plant in Waterloo with 444 positive cases with 17 percent of its employees tested.
- The Tyson Foods plant in Perry with 730 positive cases with 58 percent of employees tested.
- TPI Composites in Newton with 131 positive cases with 13 percent of employees tested.
Can American seafood survive the COVID-19 tidal wave? – Marketplace.org
Like meat processors and farmers, the seafood sector is feeling the COVID-19 effect. Many American restaurants are still closed for sit-in diners, tourism has slowed to almost nothing, and exports to Asian markets are still in limbo. Wild Alaskan salmon, lobster and oyster and fisheries are all preparing for a tough summer.
Infection Prevention
Coping in Quarantine
Easy Recipes to Cook While You’re Self-Quarantined – New York Times
If you have a decently stocked pantry, you can make a wonderful meal out of a few staples. If your pantry staples are running low like mine, this Casserole recipe from Minnesota looks easy enough.