Featured Headlines
The fast-spreading coronavirus variant is turning up in US sewers – MIT Technology Review
The toilet flushes of millions of people can track the rise of dangerous new strains of the covid-19 virus.
Ebola, Covid-19 And The Elusive Quest For Global Health Equity – Forbes
We see that with Covid-19, where emphasis was placed on measures such as self-isolation, hand-washing, social distancing and quarantine, with …
WHO to hold Briefing in Wuhan on Study of Covid-19 Origins – Bloomberg
A team of scientists part of a World Health Organization-sponsored mission probing the origins of the coronavirus are due to hold a press conference at 4 p.m. HK in the Chinese city of Wuhan to talk about their findings.
Supply Chain Is Achilles Heel in Pandemic Preparedness – MedPageToday
Strengthening the supply chain and letting companies communicate more freely are two of the ideas in a report from the Healthcare Leadership Council and other organizations about how to respond to future pandemics and other public health disasters.
COVAX Statement on New Variants of SARS-CoV-2 – WHO
The emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, serve as a powerful reminder that viruses by their very nature mutate, and that the scientific response may need to adapt if they are to remain effective against them.
How Safe Is Flying in the Age of Coronavirus? – Washington Post
How safe is it to fly? This remains a troubling question. The hopes of airlines for a rebound in travel after an initial collapse ran up against a resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 around the world starting in late 2020. Overall, the demand for flights fell in 2020 by a record 66%, as measured by the number of kilometers traveled by paying passengers, according to the International Air Transport Association. Quarantines and travel restrictions account for much of the slide, but in addition, would-be passengers continue to worry about being stuck in a cabin for an extended time with possibly infectious strangers. The evidence shows the risks aren’t negligible.
Dutch will extend coronavirus curfew until March 3 – ABC News
The Dutch government says it is extending the country’s curfew until March 3, declaring that was necessary to slow the spread of the more infectious coronavirus variant first detected in Britain
Hopes rise in Portugal but COVID-19 still slams hospitals – ABC News
Hopes are rising in Portugal that the worst of a devastating pandemic surge might be over, as the number of COVID-19 deaths reported Monday was the lowest in three weeks
In Mexico, as COVID-19 cases mount, vaccine rollout stalls and despair grows – Los Angeles Times
The vaccine pipeline is clogged, hospitals are overflowing, oxygen tanks for the ill are scarce — and the toll of dead and infected keeps spiking. Meanwhile, restaurant workers and others have taken to the streets protesting shutdowns as Mexico’s coronavirus-ravaged economy continues to crater absent any significant stimulus package from the government.
Vaccine Headlines
This study concluded by stating ‘consistent with other recent reports of the neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants or corresponding pseudoviruses by convalescent or post-immunization sera11,12, the neutralization GMT of the serum panel against the virus with three mutations from the SA variant (E484K + N501Y + D614G) was slightly lower than the neutralization GMTs against the N501Y virus or the virus with three mutations from the UK variant (Δ69/70 + N501Y + D614G).’
When a plane loaded with 1 million doses of vaccine produced by AstraZeneca landed in South Africa on Feb. 1, a hopeful country watched with rapt attention.
Fauci: Two COVID Vax Doses Still Optimal – MedPageToday
Following a two-dose approach remains the best way to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic, using the currently available Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House’s COVID-19 Response Team, during a press briefing Monday morning.
U.K. Plans Annual Vaccinations to Fight New Coronavirus Strains – Bloomberg
The U.K. is on track to vaccinate all people over age 50 by May and is already planning for a program of top-up immunizations to fight new variants of coronavirus from the autumn, officials said.
Thailand Picks Chinese Vaccine to Start Rollout From End of February – Bloomberg
Thailand will rely on vaccines from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd. to kick off an inoculation drive that aims to cover about two-thirds of the eligible population by the end of this year, potentially paving the way for a full reopening of its tourism industry.
COVID-19 vaccines: Safety, side effects –– and coincidence – Harvard Health
As the pandemic rages on, it’s increasingly clear that widespread vaccination is essential to help contain it. Physical distancing, universal face coverings, and frequent handwashing are effective, but not foolproof. And of course, these measures don’t work if they are not followed.
Clinical Considerations
In this cross-sectional study of 4675 adult outpatients presenting for non–COVID-19–associated health care in Virginia, a seroprevalence of approximately 2% was found, with an estimated 66% of seropositive results associated with asymptomatic infections. Hispanic ethnicity, residence in a multifamily unit, and contact with an individual with confirmed COVID-19 infection were risk factors significantly associated with exposure.
Among 599 enrolled COVID-19 patients, the median time for viral RNA shedding was 24 days (IQR, 19-33 days). The positive rate of RT-PCR was 35.9% (215/599), 17.0% (65/383) and 12.4% (23/185) after one, two and three consecutive negative RT-PCR test results respectively. Medians of CT-values of initial positive test, rebound positive after two consecutive negative results, and rebound positive after three consecutive negative results were 28.8, 32.8 and 36.1 respectively.
FDA Shrinks Scope of Convalescent Plasma For COVID-19 – MedPageToday
According to the updated emergency use authorization (EUA), only high-titer convalescent plasma should be used, and only for a narrower population: hospitalized patients early in disease course and those with impaired humoral immunity who cannot produce an adequate endogenous antibody response. Low-titer convalescent plasma is no longer authorized for use.
Clinical trial in hospitalized COVID-19 patients evaluates long-acting antibody therapy – NIH
An international randomized, controlled Phase 3 clinical trial has begun evaluating the safety and efficacy of an investigational long-acting antibody combination for treating people hospitalized with COVID-19. The trial, part of a master protocol known as ACTIV-3, has an adaptive design allowing investigators to add new sub-studies of additional investigational agents. ACTIV-3 is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health.
Official Reporting for February 9, 2021
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update February 1, 2020
Confirmed Cases: 105 805 951
Deaths: 2 312 278
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 106,444,833
Deaths: 2,324,146
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 26,852,809 (+91,762 New Cases)
Total deaths: 462,037 (+1,455 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
Helium Ion Microscope Captures New Images of SARS-CoV-2 – Science News
New images of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus demonstrate the potential of the helium ion microscopy in bioimaging, especially for the imaging of interactions between viruses and their host organisms.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Published Research
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Facebook announces plans to remove vaccine misinformation content – ABC News
Facebook announced Monday it will be taking stricter measures to crack down on misinformation about vaccines and said it will be doing more to help users find resources on getting their shot.
Coping in 2020 (and probably most of 2021)
She was out of her favorite hair spray and substituted with Gorilla Spray Adhesive — from the Gorilla Glue company, which makes heavy-duty adhesives for bonding metal, ceramics and stone. Her hair has been in the same slicked-down style for about a month.