Featured Headlines
Angst, Masks, New Safety Alert Mark My First Flight Since Covid – Bloomberg
Armed with hand sanitizer gels and spray and covered with an N95 mask and gloves, I made my way to LaGuardia Airport early Saturday morning. It would be my first flight in the age of coronavirus and I was more anxious than ever. After months in my Manhattan apartment, I decided to trek home to visit my family in suburban Chicago, a trip I had made dozens of times in the past. As a health reporter, I understand the risks. I debated for weeks and carefully planned precautions.
Bloomberg Podcast: Why COVID Lingers
Never in the modern scientific era have so many people been infected with the same virus in such a short period of time. For many survivors of coronavirus, symptoms hang on for weeks or even months. Bloomberg senior editor Jason Gale reports on efforts for finding ways to prevent such cases of post-Covid-19 illness in the future.
Widespread mask-wearing could prevent COVID-19 second waves – Reuters
Population-wide face mask use could push COVID-19 transmission down to controllable levels for national epidemics, and could prevent further waves of the pandemic disease when combined with lockdowns, according to a British study on Wednesday.
Up to 45 percent of SARS-CoV-2 infections may be asymptomatic, new analysis finds – Scripps
Analysis of data from 16 groups of COVID-19 patients suggest “silent” carriers may exacerbate efforts to stop spread of the disease.
Fauci Says Covid Pandemic His ‘Worst Nightmare,’ Far From Over – Bloomberg
In just a few months, Covid-19 has devastated countries around the world, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday in online comments to the Biotechnology Innovation Organization, an industry group.
Stringent public health measures have helped stem the transmission of the coronavirus, but there’s “every chance” of a resurgence as economies reopen, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.
How London Transport Is Preparing for Life After Lockdown – Bloomberg
The U.K. may be emerging from lockdown but the national requirement for 2-meter social distancing has urban planners in London straining to find alternatives for millions of people who depend on the city’s often crowded public transportation. Temporary measures popping up all over the city will make completing short journeys by cycling or walking easier for some, but for people accustomed to using trains and busses, staying local might be the only viable option.
Puerto Rico, 14 states see record COVID-19 cases – CIDRAP
In the past week, 14 states and Puerto Rico have recorded their highest-ever 7-day average of new coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, the Washington Post reports. The increases are being fueled by rural outbreaks in southern and western states, many of which were quick to reopen on or around May 1, when national physical distancing efforts officially ended.
The anatomy of a pandemic: What have scientists uncovered six months on? – BBC
Investigating an outbreak is not unlike the work of any detective. It’s a race to the scene of the crime before any evidence disappears; witnesses are interviewed – and then the chase begins, to track down and contain the killer before they strike again. But despite rallying an unrivalled international effort, coronavirus continues to advance, killing thousands of people everyday. Six months on, what have scientists discovered whilst trying to contain coronavirus?
Coronavirus Lockdowns Saved Millions Of Lives, Journal ‘Nature’ Reports – NPR
3-minute audio at link. When it comes to controlling the spread of the coronavirus, stay-at-home orders work. Two new studies published in the journal Nature say millions of lives have been saved worldwide.
Stringent public health measures have helped stem the transmission of the coronavirus, but there’s “every chance” of a resurgence as economies reopen, the chief scientist of the World Health Organization warned Tuesday.
Clinical Considerations
COVID-19–linked syndrome in kids new, distinct, studies suggest – CIDRAP
Two new studies involving a total of 75 children published yesterday in JAMA showed that the pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome linked to COVID-19 is novel and different from Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). [Related JAMA Study] [Another related JAMA Study]
Discharged COVID-19 Patients Without Symptoms Often Have Positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR Tests – NEJM
After observing that some COVID-19 patients who had recovered and had been discharged were readmitted with positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, Chinese investigators retested 60 COVID-19 patients who had been discharged to in-home quarantine after hospitalization. PCR testing status of these patients at hospital discharge was unknown.
The COVID-Neuro Network, through Brain Infections Global, is creating an international collaborative to study neurologic presentations in COVID-19. (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry)
Official Reporting for June 10, 2020
| WHO SITREP #141 | ECDC | Johns Hopkins | |
| Confirmed Cases | 7,039,918 | 7,210,462 | 7,283,709 |
| Deaths | 404,396 | 405,587 | 412,745 |
Total deaths: 110,925
Surveillance Headlines
UNITED STATES
USA: Coronavirus hospitalizations rise sharply in several states following Memorial Day – Washington Post
California: COVID-19 Hospitalizations Spike In Sacramento, San Joaquin Counties – Capital Radio
Washington DC: Washington, D.C., National Guardsmen test positive for COVID-19 – NBC News
Arizona: Arizona calls for emergency plan as COVID-19 spikes after reopening – Reuters
Texas: Number of Texans hospitalized with coronavirus hits all-time high as experts say cases are likely to continue increasing – Texas Tribune
North Carolina: Coronavirus hospitalizations, cases surge to new records in the South as states reopen – News Observer
Pennsylvania: Sewer water testing for COVID-19, shows there could be 10 times more people with the virus than reported – Local ABC News
Alabama: Coronavirus Cases Have Risen Over 500% In Alabama’s Capital Since The Start Of May – Forbes
EUROPE
Netherlands: Coronavirus rips through Dutch mink farms, triggering culls to prevent human infections – Science
UK: UK lockdown a week earlier could have halved COVID-19 death toll, scientist says – Reuters
ASIA
India: Delhi Overwhelmed by Covid-19 Cases After City Eases Lockdown – Bloomberg
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil: Coronavirus: Brazil resumes publishing Covid-19 data after court ruling – BBC
Brazil: Coronavirus parties highlight Brazil’s fractured approach to pandemic – Guardian
Science and Tech
Decoding SARS-CoV-2 Hijacking of Host Mitochondria in Pathogenesis of COVID-19 – Physiology
Due to ongoing pandemic around the world, the mechanisms underlying the SARS-CoV-2 induced COVID-19 are subject to intense investigation. Based on available data for the SARS-CoV-1 virus, we suggest how CoV-2 localization of RNA transcripts in mitochondria hijacks the host cell’s mitochondrial function to viral advantage. Besides viral RNA transcripts, RNA also localizes to mitochondria.
Just How Historic Is the Latest Covid-19 Science Meltdown? – Wired
WHENThe Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine pulled an influential pair of Covid-19 papers last Thursday, it was a rare event in scientific publishing. For medical researchers, this was like seeing The Washington Post and The New York Times take down related news stories at the same time—a confluence of editorial failures that raises dire questions about what went wrong and why. But how surprising is this scandal, really?
Vaccine
Coronavirus Vaccine Tracker – New York Times
Researchers around the world are developing more than 135 vaccines against the coronavirus. Vaccines typically require years of research and testing before reaching the clinic, but scientists are racing to produce a safe and effective vaccine by next year.
In the worldwide race for a vaccine, here’s where they stand – New York Times
Researchers around the world are developing more than 125 vaccines against the coronavirus. Vaccines typically require years of research and testing before reaching the clinic, but scientists are hoping to produce a safe and effective vaccine by next year.
The lifeline pipeline – Reuters
With much of the world living in lockdown, the spread of the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that was first detected in China late last year is beginning to slow in some places. As of June 9, 7.3 million had been infected and 412,000 killed by COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
The inside story behind the pandemic, the CEO and a promising, unproven treatment. – Forbes
In the middle of March, Pfizer chief Albert Bourla beamed into a WebEx video call with the leaders of the American pharmaceutical giant’s vaccine research and manufacturing groups. The two teams had worked late into the night on a robust development plan for Pfizer’s experimental Covid-19 vaccine and told Bourla that they aimed to make it available lightning-fast. It could be ready sometime in 2021. [18 Min Audio at link]
Published Research
Critical Lessons From Last Week’s Retraction of Two COVID-19 Papers – Med Page Today
Clinical Characteristics of 58 Children With a Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated With SARS-CoV-2 – JAMA
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Related to COVID-19 in Previously Healthy Children and Adolescents in New York City – JAMA
Pre-Pub (not yet peer reviewed, should not be regarded as conclusive)
Coping in Quarantine
Here’s How Starbucks Plans To Transform Stores For The Post-Coronavirus World – Forbes
Despite potentially losing over $3 billion in revenue in the third quarter, Starbucks announced on Wednesday that it will increasingly shift toward a digital customer experience based on convenience with plans to transform many traditional cafes by adding more takeout options.
How the space industry has adjusted to life under coronavirus – MIT Tech Review
Like other industries, space hasn’t been immune to the effects of covid-19 pandemic. Operations across the world have been slowed or shut down thanks to lockdowns imposed by governments to stop the spread of the virus. The recent Crew Dragon launch of astronauts to the International Space Station by SpaceX and NASA was more of an exception than the rule.