Featured Headlines
U.S. releases new coronavirus guidance for nursing homes – Seattle Times
The Biden administration published revised guidelines Wednesday for nursing home visits during the coronavirus pandemic, allowing guests to go inside to see residents regardless of whether they or the residents have been vaccinated.
Researchers have come up with a better way to test which fabrics work best for masks that are meant to slow the spread of COVID-19. By testing those fabrics under conditions that mimic the humidity of a person’s breath, the researchers have obtained measurements that more accurately reflect how the fabrics perform when worn by a living, breathing person.
Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline are stopping a phase 3 clinical trial of their COVID-19 antibody early for efficacy after seeing an 85% reduction in hospitalization or death at an interim review. The trial provided further evidence of the efficacy of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in ambulatory patients.
COVID-19 lessons for research – Science
As we mark the 1-year anniversary of the declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of COVID-19 as a global pandemic, the world has suffered a staggering and tragic human toll. During this dark time, the scientific community has been called to rise to the occasion in unprecedented ways. The intensity of the work and the sense of urgency have been unremitting and exhausting. As we sort out the triumphs and frustrations, we can begin to reflect on what we have learned.
Hong Kong Outbreak Ensnares Expats With Hundreds Quarantined – Bloomberg
Alarm spread among Hong Kong’s business and expatriate community as a coronavirus outbreak linked to a gym widened and hundreds of people including children were told to go to government centers for quarantine that can last 14 days.
Vaccine Headlines
Data Suggest COVID Vax Cuts Asymptomatic Infection Risk – MedPageToday
Two studies announced Thursday based on so-called real world data suggested that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines reduced the risk of developing asymptomatic infection. One of these, from researchers at the Mayo Clinic, was published in a journal; the other was from Pfizer and BioNTech, described only in a press release with a promise of full publication at a later date. And because neither was a randomized trial, they left plenty of room for questions and skepticism.
The Israel Ministry of Health (MoH), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced real-world evidence demonstrating dramatically lower incidence rates of COVID-19 disease in individuals fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (BNT162b2), underscoring the observed substantial public health impact of Israel’s nationwide immunization program.
Self-Unblinding Threatens COVID Vaccine Trial – MedPageToday
As vaccine availability increases, some research participants are eager to know if they actually got vaccinated. On social media, participants in Novavax’s ongoing trial have been hotly debating whether it’s a good idea — or ethical — to unblind themselves by taking commercially available antibody tests. Many say they’ve already done so and used the results to help them decide whether to drop out and get a definitely active vaccine.
Italy bans AstraZeneca batch following two deaths in Sicily – Reuters
Italian health authorities have ordered the withdrawal of a batch of AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine following the deaths of two men in Sicily who had recently been inoculated, a source close to the matter said on Thursday.
Clinical Considerations
Kidney Disease Is Deadlier Than Ever – MedPageToday
As one of the most devastating healthcare crises in modern history, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated our nation’s ongoing battle with another deadly disease: kidney disease. In this past year, we’ve seen clear evidence that the millions of individuals with kidney disease are at much higher risk for contracting the novel coronavirus, being hospitalized, and dying – underscoring just how truly vulnerable this population of Americans is in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2 and the Gastrointestinal Tract in Children – PubMed
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is predominantly a respiratory disease. However, its significant impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) system is now well-known. SARS-CoV-2 enters cells via the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor, which is abundantly expressed on lung cells, but also on enterocytes.
Official Reporting for March 12, 2021
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update March 9, 2021
Confirmed Cases: 118,058,503
Deaths: 2,621,046
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 118,742,439
Deaths: 2,632,955
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 29,052,862 (+60,264 New Cases)
Total deaths: 527,726 (+1,513 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
Landscape of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-interacting cells in human tissues – Science Direct
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a global pandemic. However, the mechanism of tissue tropism of SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear.
Researchers race to develop antiviral weapons to fight the pandemic coronavirus – Science
In March 2020, as the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic was coming into view, Jen Nwankwo and colleagues turned a pair of artificial intelligence (AI) tools against SARS-CoV-2. One newly developed AI program, called SUEDE, digitally screens all known druglike compounds for likely activity against biomolecules thought to be involved in disease. The other, BAGEL, predicts how to build inhibitors to known targets. The two programs searched for compounds able to block human enzymes that play essential roles in enabling the virus to infect our cells.
DNA from Neanderthals affects vulnerability to covid-19 – The Economist
As best as scientists can tell, Neanderthals died out around 40,000 years ago. But they did not vanish from the Earth entirely. In the past decade it has become clear that Neanderthals mated with the ancestors of modern humans, and that at least some of those unions produced viable offspring. The upshot is that almost half of the Neanderthal genome still survives, scattered in small quantities among almost all modern people’s dna. (The exception is those with mostly African ancestors, for Neanderthals seem never to have lived in Africa.)
Science Will End the Pandemic, But the ‘Exit Strategy’ Needs Work – Bloomberg
Wellcome’s Dr. Jeremy Farrar says the next challenge will be getting nations to distribute lifesaving Covid medicines equitably.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Zoom, Social Distance, ‘Blursday’: The Coronavirus Has Changed How We Speak – NBC
The meanings of “contact tracing,” “flatten the curve,” “isolation,” “quarantine,” “virtual learning” and “lockdown” have all evolved since the World Health Organization declared the pandemic on March 11, 2020. Add in new slang such as “Zoombombing” and “the Rona,” and it’s almost like we are speaking a new English language after 12 months.
Hospital Emergency Rooms Struggle With Overdose Spike During Pandemic – NPR
When the pandemic hit, visits to hospital emergency departments plummeted by more than 40%. People were scared of catching the coronavirus. But Kristin Holland, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found patients experiencing drug-related crises needed help so desperately they kept coming.
Published Research
Impact of the COVID-19 Vaccine on Asymptomatic Infection Among Patients Undergoing Pre-Procedural COVID-19 Molecular Screening – Clinical Infectious Diseases
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
None Today
Coping in 2020 (and probably most of 2021)
More reading on other plagues in history…
How Bubonic Plague Reshaped The Streets Of Mumbai – NPR
On a leafy uphill road in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb, a fire burns at a Catholic shrine. Garlands adorn a cross and statues of saints below it as pedestrians walk by wearing masks. A nondescript sign at the back of the shrine tells visitors that the cross was erected in 1897 when the city was battling another pandemic.
Remember travel? I miss it too…
Here is an entertaining solution to missing travel and adventure. If you could plan a trip to anywhere post pandemic, where would it be? I think my top three would be:
- New Zealand/Australia (been to Australia before long ago, amazing!)
- Norway (again)
- Northern Italy, Alsace Region France, Switzerland, Austria, anywhere in Europe, Greek islands, Italian Riviera, French Riviera, anywhere in Italy, hiking with cows wearing bells in the Italian Dolomites, Turkish coast, on a sailboat somewhere warm, did I mention Italy?
