Featured Headlines
A New Coronavirus Variant Is Spreading in New York, Researchers Report – New York Times
The variant contains a mutation thought to help the virus dodge the immune system, scientists said. The new variant, called B.1.526, first appeared in samples collected in the city in November. By the middle of this month, it accounted for about one in four viral sequences appearing in a database shared by scientists.
The U.K. approved the world’s first COVID-19 human challenge trial – Science News
In a few weeks, dozens of young and healthy volunteers in the United Kingdom will be intentionally exposed to the coronavirus as part of the world’s first COVID-19 human challenge trial.
Meet the key members of Biden’s Covid-19 response team – New York Times
The coronavirus pandemic has crippled economies, shut down travel and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, transforming the world in ways that would have been unthinkable a year ago. The Biden administration’s first days were inevitably dominated by discussion of how his team would tackle the crisis, as the U.S. death toll continued its inexorable climb to a staggering milestone: 500,000 deaths.
NIH study finds that people with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies may have a low risk of future infection – NIH
People who have had evidence of a prior infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, appear to be well protected against being reinfected with the virus, at least for a few months, according to a newly published study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This finding may explain why reinfection appears to be relatively rare, and it could have important public health implications, including decisions about returning to physical workplaces, school attendance, the prioritization of vaccine distribution, and other activities.
Studies Examine Variant Surging in California, and the News Isn’t Good – New York Times
Two studies confirm that a new coronavirus mutant in California is more contagious, although the scale of its threat is unclear.A variant first discovered in California in December is more contagious than earlier forms of the coronavirus, two new studies have shown, fueling concerns that emerging mutants like this one could hamper the sharp decline in cases over all in the state and perhaps elsewhere.
What the mink COVID-19 outbreaks taught us about pandemics – National Geographic
Anne Sofie Hammer was searching for sick mink. The Danish government had hired the University of Copenhagen veterinary pathologist in June 2020 to investigate if farmers were infecting mink with the novel coronavirus. This meant going from farm to farm, looking for animals that weren’t eating or had a cough and taking blood samples and mouth swabs.
What it’s like to die from Covid-19 – Vox
“I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy”: Doctors describe what their sickest coronavirus patients endure.
What Do Reinfections Mean for COVID’s Future? – MedPageToday
New variants of SARS-CoV-2 that potentially escape human immune response have the world on edge, raising concerns as to whether they will undermine efforts to bring the pandemic under control with vaccination.
Vaccine Headlines
The Pfizer vaccine’s initial success holds up in wider use, a study finds – New York Times
The two-dose Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech is protecting recipients about as well in wide actual use as it did in clinical trials, according to a new large-scale study from Israel. [Related NEJM Study]
Big jump in vaccine supply is coming soon – AP
COVID-19 vaccine makers told Congress on Tuesday to expect a big jump in the delivery of doses over the coming month, and the companies insist they will be able to provide enough for most Americans to get inoculated by summer. By the end of March, Pfizer and Moderna expect to have provided the U.S. government with a total of 220 million vaccine doses, up sharply from the roughly 75 million shipped so far.
Last-Mile Logistics of Covid Vaccination — The Role of Health Care Organizations – NEJM
The development, evaluation, and production of vaccines for Covid-19 was the remarkable success story of 2020; the challenge for 2021 is getting those vaccines into the bodies of a critical mass of the world’s population.
FDA Analysis Of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Finds It Safe, Effective – NPR
The Food and Drug Administration released an analysis of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday morning that supports its authorization for emergency use.
Chinese Pharmaceutical Makers Seek Approval For New Coronavirus Vaccines – NPR
Chinese pharmaceutical makers are seeking market approval from Beijing for two new coronavirus vaccines – one that has shown 72% efficacy and another 69% efficacy in human Phase III trials.
The National Institutes of Health has allocated the first funds of a billion-dollar initiative to figure out why some people aren’t recovering from Covid-19.
Clinical Considerations
Dexamethasone in Hospitalized Patients with Covid-19 – NEJM
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is associated with diffuse lung damage. Glucocorticoids may modulate inflammation-mediated lung injury and thereby reduce progression to respiratory failure and death.
New Findings on 2 Ways Children Become Seriously Ill From the Coronavirus – New York Times
A large study found that young people hospitalized with acute Covid-19 have symptoms and characteristics that differ from those with a Covid-linked inflammatory syndrome.
Unraveling the Complex Link between COVID and Diabetes – Scientific American
Infection with the pandemic-causing virus seems to trigger diabetes in some patients. Here are five plausible explanations as to why.
Official Reporting for February 25, 2021
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update February 22, 2020
Confirmed Cases: 111 762 965
Deaths: 2 479 678
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 112,521,610
Deaths: 2,495,881
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 28,065,327 (+69,563 New Cases)
Total deaths: 501,181 (+2,130 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
CDC Launches Web Tool To Help Americans Find COVID-19 Vaccines – NPR
The scramble to secure a COVID-19 vaccine appointment is chaotic and fierce. There are not yet enough doses for everyone who’s eligible and wants to get vaccinated. As frustration rises, the federal government hasn’t offered much besides assurances that things will get better and appeals for calm.
Scientists Are Building More Comprehensive Tests for COVID-19 – Johns Hopkins
New strains of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may have greater transmissibility or altered virulence, or may exhibit resistance to the current vaccines. Now, scientists are racing to develop better ways to detect emerging SARS-CoV-2 strains among the high number of diagnosed infections.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Patients After Severe COVID-19 Infection – JAMA
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may occur in individuals who have experienced a traumatic event. Previous coronavirus epidemics were associated with PTSD diagnoses in postillness stages, with meta-analytic findings indicating a prevalence of 32.2% (95% CI, 23.7-42.0).1 However, information after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is piecemeal. We aimed at filling this gap by studying a group of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who sought treatment at the emergency department, most of whom required hospitalization, eventually recovered, and were subsequently referred to a postacute care service for multidisciplinary assessment.
Published Research
BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine in a Nationwide Mass Vaccination Setting – NEJM
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
None Today
Coping in 2020 (and probably most of 2021)