Featured Headlines
Cases accelerate in the U.S. – NYT
Today may be a pivotal day in the United States, and we’re not talking about the election. The country is close to surpassing 100,000 cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began. Yesterday, the U.S. recorded more than 93,500 cases, its second-highest total ever.
Lessons from the First Wave – Med Page Today
While much of the rest of the country is dealing with the terrifying reality of daily increases in COVID-19 cases, the suffering and the death, here in New York City, at least for the moment, things feel kind of quiet — maybe too quiet.
COVID-19 Is 10 Times Deadlier Than Flu and 20 Percent of NYC Have Been Infected: Study – NBC News
Around 1.7 million people in New York City have been infected with the coronavirus and the disease was shown to have been spreading before the first confirmed case was reported eight months ago, a new study found.
The coronavirus is surging, but Canada is keeping schools open – Washington Post
Two months later, her twin boys in kindergarten and their older brother in second grade are frustrated by Internet glitches, missing their friends and itching to go back. So the family has opted to switch to a hybrid model of in-person and e-learning this month.
Europe took center-stage in global spread of the coronavirus, says new research – Science Daily
A collaboration between genome researchers at the University of Huddersfield and Portugal’s University of Minho has led to one of the largest analyses of its kind focusing on thousands of virus genomes sampled from all around the world.
Dr. Birx Issues Warning COVID-19 Pandemic Entering New, ‘Deadly Phase’ In Memo To White House – NYT
“We are entering the most concerning and most deadly phase of this pandemic,” Dr. Birx wrote, adding: “This is not about lockdowns — it hasn’t been about lockdowns since March or April. It’s about an aggressive balanced approach that is not being implemented.”
Face Coverings Could Save 130,000 American Lives from COVID-19 by March – NIH Director’s Blog
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has already claimed the lives of more than 230,000 Americans, the population of a mid-sized U.S. city. As we look ahead to winter and the coming flu season, the question weighing on the minds of most folks is: Can we pull together to contain the spread of this virus and limit its growing death toll?
Clinical Considerations
Beware of Rashes in COVID-19 Patients – Med Page Today
A clue to the diagnosis in this patient, who did not receive hydroxychloroquine, came from his urinary tract infection. A 78-year-old man presents to an emergency department in Pennsylvania after being transferred from a nursing facility; he has septic shock secondary to a Pseudomonas aeruginosa urinary tract infection. His medical history includes benign prostatic hyperplasia, coronary artery disease, and atrial fibrillation.
The Specter of Endothelial Injury in COVID-19 – The Scientist
Studies signal that damage to the endothelium—cells that cover blood vessels like wallpaper—could underpin the thrombosis and inflammation induced by coronavirus infection.
Almost one in five patients with COVID-19 may only show gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a review of academic studies. The findings of the review suggest abdominal radiologists need to remain vigilant during the pandemic while imaging patients.
Two large recent studies show that people hospitalized for COVID-19 in March were more than three times as likely to die as people hospitalized for COVID–19 in August.
Official Reporting for November 3, 2020
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update October 30, 2020 (Last Updated)
Cumulative Cases: 46,840,783
Cumulative Deaths: 1,204,028
ECDC
Confirmed Cases: 47 093 222
Deaths: 1 207 290
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 47,300,410
Deaths: 1,211,365
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 9,268,818
Total deaths: 230,893
Surveillance Headlines
UNITED STATES
Texas ranks highest in total number of COVID-19 cases in US – ABC
Science and Tech
Pentagon Scientists Seek Device to Detect COVID-19 in the Air – Next Gov
The U.S. has been fighting the novel coronavirus from a defensive posture—wearing masks, quarantining and testing and contact tracing when symptoms arise, at best. But the Defense Department’s team of mad scientists want to know if they can detect COVID-19 in the air and proactively tell people to avoid a specific location.
Diagnostics
A Rapid Virus Test Falters in People Without Symptoms, Study Finds – NYT
A head-to-head comparison of lab and rapid coronavirus tests drew mixed reactions from experts, who raised concerns about accuracy.
Vaccine
Bloomberg Prognosis Podcast: Inside the Push For a Vaccine in the U.S.
Operation Warp Speed, The White House’s effort to fast-track a vaccine for covid-19, appears to be a conspicuous exception to the government’s otherwise disastrous management of the pandemic. The project has cleared bureaucratic hurdles and awarded more than $12 billion in vaccine-related contracts and has an overall budget of as much as $18 billion. Cynthia Koons reports on what Operation Warp Speed is doing behind the scenes.
Antiviral
NIH to host a summit on SARS-CoV-2 antiviral therapeutics development – Mio
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to host the Virtual SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Therapeutics Summit on November 6, 2020, to discuss progress and remaining challenges in developing antiviral treatments for COVID-19, according to a press release.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Ideas for how to Break Pandemic Pitfalls – Duke
Have you fallen into habits you’d like to change? Duke experts share helpful strategies
Published Research
Monoclonal Antibody Against SARS-CoV-2 – NEJM
Pre-Print Studies
None Today
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Dutch Fall for Covid Conspiracies in Warning to Europe’s Leaders – Bloomberg
Until recently, students could find themselves alongside lawmakers and government officials enjoying after-work drinks at the square’s bars and restaurants. Politicians on their way to the chamber would stop to chat with protesters who regularly gather near Parliament’s main entrance to make their views known.
Sean Connery passed away last weekend, in his sleep, at the age of 90. In an interview his wife said he got his wish of leaving this world without. fuss. IMO Sean Connery the best Bond ever, we watched Thunderball Sunday night. Here is a list of 15 of the best Sean Connery movies to stream while you stay home and stay safe.
Excessive alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic – Science Daily
The full impact of COVID-19 on alcohol use is not yet known, but rates have been rising during the first few months of the pandemic.