Featured Headlines
Study finds no COVID-19 benefit for convalescent plasma – CIDRAP
Convalescent plasma derived from recovered patients provided no benefit over usual care in 464 COVID-19 adult patients in India, according to the results of the first randomized, controlled trial to test the safety and effectiveness of the therapy. [Related BMJ Study]
Facial Masking for Covid-19 – [letter to the editor] – NEJM
Masks are used primarily to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission rather than reduce the dose of infectious particles or mitigate the severity of Covid-19. The suggestion that masks offer an alternative to vaccination without evidence that the benefits outweigh the great risks implicitly encourages reckless behavior. With the lack of a vaccine, nonpharmaceutical interventions continue to be the best preventive tools.2,3 Transparent, contextualized messaging and embracing uncertainty are essential while science moves forward. Currently, there are too many research gaps to conclude that masks offer benefits beyond reducing transmission risk. We should not advocate for these benefits without fully comprehending the risks.
Double threat of COVID-19 and influenza – The Lancet
At the time of publication, it looks like the second wave of COVID-19 is well underway in Europe. The weekly tally of new cases has been steadily rising for more than 2 months, but the past few weeks have seen accelerated transmission. Cases have also been trending upwards in the USA. Oct 14, 2020, saw the nation register the highest number of new cases of COVID-19 since Aug 7. In general, countries are much better prepared than they were when severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first exploded onto the scene. But October also marks the beginning of the flu season in the northern hemisphere. If both viruses surge simultaneously, even the best resourced health-care systems would be hard pressed to cope.
U.S. Tops 70,000 Coronavirus Cases In 1 Day — Heights Not Seen Since July – NPR
Public health experts are now watching to see if Thursday’s results are an aberration or part of an ominous new pattern. When the U.S. hit a record of more than 77,000 cases in mid-July, it topped the 70,000-mark on several other days as well — and the numbers stayed worryingly high through the end of the month.
Why COVID outbreaks look set to worsen this winter – Nature
It’s too soon to say whether COVID is seasonal like the flu — but where clusters aren’t under control, infections will continue to swell. Infections caused by many respiratory viruses, including influenza and some coronaviruses, swell in winter and drop in summer. Researchers say it’s too early in the COVID-19 pandemic to say whether SARS-CoV-2 will become a seasonal virus. But growing evidence suggests that a small seasonal effect will probably contribute to bigger outbreaks in winter, on the basis of what is known about how the virus spreads and how people behave in colder months.
Young People Care More About Covid Than You Think – Bloomberg
Since the summer holidays, young adults have taken much of the blame for surging Covid-19 infections. Small wonder. We’ve all seen the pictures and videos of youthful crowds spilling out of pubs at curfew. In some places, new cases are still highest among young people.
Clinical Considerations
Children develop ocular manifestations with COVID-19 – Optometry Times
Due to several reported cases, it is understood that patients with COVID-19 and ocular symptoms are at an increased risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 through a conjunctival route.1-3 However, virtually all currently reported cases of conjunctival transmission have occurred in adults, and little is known about the ocular manifestations of COVID-19 in children. When compared with adults, exposure history, clinical characteristics, and ocular manifestations in children with COVID-19 could present very differently.4-9
Official Reporting for October 23, 2020
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update October 16, 2020 (Last Updated)
Cumulative Cases: 41,570,883
Cumulative Deaths: 1,134,940
ECDC
Confirmed Cases: 41 771 932
Deaths: 1 138 780
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 42,075,568
Deaths: 1,141,775
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Stats for 10/23 not available at time of publishing
Total cases: 8,249,011
Total deaths: 220,362
Surveillance Headlines
EUROPE
Germany: Germany grapples with coronavirus spike months after it was hailed for good practice – NBC
SOUTH AMERICA
Peru: In hard-hit Peru, worry mounts over both COVID-19 and dengue – Washington Post
Science and Tech
Therapeutics
The race to make COVID antibody therapies cheaper and more potent – Nature
Injections of antibodies might prevent mild COVID-19 from becoming severe, but the treatments are expensive and difficult to make. The ‘curative’ power of this antibody treatment has yet to be proven. Although it has shown promise in small, early studies in people with mild COVID-19 symptoms, large clinical trials have not yet been completed. Meanwhile, researchers are already designing more-advanced antibody treatments that could be cheaper, easier to produce and more potent.
Vaccine
FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Process Is ‘Thoughtful And Deliberate,’ Says Former FDA Head – NPR
5 min audio at the link – The Food and Drug Administration’s sprint toward approving a COVID-19 vaccine does not mean the government is “cutting corners” or shorting safety, said Dr. Mark McClellan, former FDA commissioner under George W. Bush.
The FDA advisory committee, in an all-day virtual meeting, did not consider any specific vaccine. The session served in large part as a venue for the agency to try to reassure the public that any vaccine will be held to a high standard, not the relatively low bar used this year for emergency use authorization for treatments. The FDA said that though it probably will grant emergency use authorizations — which can be handed out faster than full approvals — for the early vaccines, it will use robust criteria similar to those applied in regular approvals.
Vaccine Hesitancy
Researchers Find Doubts About COVID-19 Vaccine Among People Of Color – NPR
At a meeting Thursday of experts advising the FDA on COVID-19 vaccines, the concerns of front-line workers and people of color were read aloud verbatim, highlighting the crucial project of communicating the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine in an environment of deep political distrust.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
As the pandemic drags on, following COVID-19 prevention guidelines can feel like more and more of a challenge. This kind of fatigue is not unique to pandemic precautions like sticking with social distancing, masking up and keeping your hands washed. With all kinds of health-related behavior changes – including increasing physical activity, eating healthy and decreasing tobacco use – at least half of people relapse within six months.
Combating Pandemic Fatigue – New York Times
In the beginning of the pandemic we rallied, sending loved ones rolls of toilet paper and handing out fruit to delivery drivers. Now, living under a blanket of restrictions has become a way of life, a daily routine of risk calculation and caution. But cases are once again spiking around the world and many people have what some call “pandemic fatigue.” As my colleagues wrote, “The rituals of hope and unity that helped people endure the first surge of the virus have given way to exhaustion and frustration.” Everywhere you turn there’s a feeling of burnout, which is even more pronounced for essential and frontline workers.
How the Pandemic Changed the Urban Soundscape – Bloomberg
A map of recordings from around the world during lockdowns reveals what cities sound like without noise pollution. When cities went on lockdown during the pandemic, things got quieter, but they didn’t fall totally silent. Instead, the hooting of the scops owls became more distinct in Thessaloniki, Greece, where the sound of traffic once drowned them out. Birds in San Francisco sang in softer and clearer tones absent the honking of cars and rumbling of engines. Meanwhile in New York City, the humming of air conditioners from the towering buildings replaced the bustling noise of a once-packed Times Square.
Published Research
Genetic and hormonal influence on SARS-CoV-2-infection susceptibility – Annals of Oncology
Physical distancing in schools for SARS-CoV-2 and the resurgence of rhinovirus – The Lancet
Seroprevalence of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies in COVID‐19 patients and healthy volunteers up to six months post disease onset – European Journal of Immunology
Seropositive Prevalence of Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China – JAMA
Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19 – Science
Pre-Print Studies
None today
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Li-Meng Yan: “Coronavirus is a biological weapon” – Spain News
Now living in exile in the United States, the Chinese virologist reiterated on Spanish television that the virus is the creation of the Chinese military.
This just in from North Korea… North Korea warnings over ‘yellow dust coming from China – BBC
North Korean TV warned viewers that the “yellow dust” included “toxic material, virus, and pathogenic microorganism” State-controlled Korean Central Television (KCTV) broadcast special weather segments on Wednesday, warning of an influx of the yellow dust the next day. It also announced a nationwide ban on outdoor construction work. Yellow dust refers to sand from Mongolian and Chinese deserts that blows into North and South Korea at certain times of the year.