Featured Headlines
An airport-based coronavirus surveillance program in the United States for travelers arriving from abroad detected the first known U.S. case of the highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2 in December, according to a new study.
The W.H.O. says the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron is driving most cases around the world. – NYT
Globally, BA.2 made up about 86 percent of cases reported to the W.H.O. between Feb. 16 and March 17, the agency said in a report on Tuesday. The previously dominant subvariants, BA.1 and BA.1.1, together represented about 13 percent of the cases.
Experts worry about how US will see next COVID surge coming – AP
As coronavirus infections rise in some parts of the world, experts are watching for a potential new COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — and wondering how long it will take to detect.
‘Stealth’ Variant Is Now Dominant COVID Strain in NY Region, CDC Says – NBC New York
So-called “stealth” omicron variant BA.2, which is behind the latest COVID case uptick in the New York area, now accounts for 52% of the virus circulating in the region, establishing dominance within a week after owning a 39% case share in the CDC’s prior update, fresh data released by the federal agency shows.
Another Covid Surge May Be Coming. Are We Ready for It? – NYT
We’ve been wearing rose-colored glasses instead of correcting our vision,” one scientist said. Scarcely two months after the Omicron variant drove coronavirus case numbers to frightening heights in the United States, scientists and health officials are bracing for another swell in the pandemic and, with it, the first major test of the country’s strategy of living with the virus while limiting its impact.
Shanghai Tightens Lockdown Rules After Cases Rise to Record – Bloomberg
Shanghai’s new Covid-19 cases jumped more than 60% in a single day, hitting a record 1,609 on Friday, even as authorities widened restrictions that have limited access to food and medical care with devastating consequences.
Los Angeles County Public Health officials announced today that the county of 10 million people had finally begun to experience a trend that has already hit many parts of the United States: a rapid rise in the number of Covid cases attributed to the more transmissible Omicron BA.2 variant.
Vaccine Headlines
Evidence grows that vaccines lower the risk of getting long COVID – NPR
The chance of even a mild case of COVID-19 turning into a long-term, debilitating medical condition is one of the greatest fears of Americans trying to navigate the pandemic, which is again taking a turn as new data shows the BA.2 subvariant is taking hold in the U.S.
Covid vaccinations — including boosters — fall to lowest levels since 2020 – Washington Post
With another pandemic surge possibly on the way, vaccination for the coronavirus in the United States has all but ground to a halt, with initial doses and boosters plummeting to the lowest levels since the program began in late December 2020.
Clinical Considerations
New-Onset Diabetes in Covid-19 – NEJM
There is a bidirectional relationship between Covid-19 and diabetes. On the one hand, diabetes is associated with an increased risk of severe Covid-19. On the other hand, new-onset diabetes and severe metabolic complications of preexisting diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolarity for which exceptionally high doses of insulin are warranted, have been observed in patients with Covid-19.1-3 These manifestations of diabetes pose challenges in clinical management and suggest a complex pathophysiology of Covid-19–related diabetes.
Blood Clots More Likely With COVID Versus Pneumonia – MedPageToday
Blood clots may be more common in patients with COVID-19 than in those with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), a study conducted at a Utah hospital system suggested.
Official Reporting for March 25, 2022
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update March 22, 2022 (latest release)
New Cases: 1,690,016
Confirmed Cases: 474,659,674
Deaths: 6,103,355
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 477,751,822
Deaths:6,111,844
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 79,696,994 (+27,134 New Cases)
Total deaths: 972,550 (+550 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) top the list of infectious disease-related causes of death around the globe. But what is the effect of one of these respiratory infections on the other? A team of researchers asked that question, with a focus on the role of a tuberculosis infection, and it’s immune response, on a secondary infection with SARS-CoV-2.
It’s Not Over for Aspirin in Moderate COVID-19 – Med Page Today
People with moderate COVID-19 illness tended to have better clinical outcomes if they took aspirin their first day in the hospital, according to data from the NIH’s National COVID Cohort Collaborative.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
COVID and schizophrenia: Why this deadly mix can deepen understanding of the brain – NPR
Most of the time, the voices in Keris Myrick’s head don’t bother her. They stay in the background or say nice things. But sometimes they get loud and mean – like when a deadly pandemic descended on the world and shut down society as we know it.
Published Research
PREPRINT: Early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants using traveler-based genomic surveillance at four US airports, September 2021- January 2022 – Link
Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection in nursing homes: Do not forget the most vulnerable – Journal of American Geriatrics
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
The surgeon general calls on Big Tech to turn over Covid-19 misinformation data. – NYT
Dr. Vivek Murthy also demanded information from the platforms about the major sources of Covid-19 misinformation. Companies have until May 2 to submit the data.
Coping with COVID
Congratulating the newly matched med students pic.twitter.com/1A8mcKWpCv
— Dr. Glaucomflecken (@DGlaucomflecken) March 19, 2022