Featured Headlines
As authorities in suburban Milwaukee gamed out the complex preparations to allow children back into classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic, they didn’t plan for one scenario: parents deliberately sending infected kids to school. Yet that’s exactly what’s happened multiple times in Washington and Ozaukee counties, health officials said this week.
Loss of Anti–SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Mild Covid-19 – NEJM
The results reported in the letter by Ibarrondo et al. (Sept. 10)1 regarding the rapid decay of anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in patients who had recovered from Covid-19 are in contrast to our findings and those of other research groups, such as Wang et al. from China.2 In their study, Wang et al. showed that IgG responses were detected in most patients with either severe disease or mild disease at 9 days after the onset of infection, and the IgG levels remained high throughout the study (35 to 40 days). These findings are in accordance with those from our investigation of the longitudinal profile of IgA and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in samples of convalescent plasma obtained from 151 donors. We found that the IgA levels remained high until 50 to 60 days after the onset of symptoms and that the IgG levels remained elevated, with only a slight decrease, at 120 days after the onset of symptoms. Therefore, we need more data regarding the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies from different research groups to understand the human antibody response against this disease.
As Virus Cases Surge in Europe, Hospitalizations Lag. But for How Long? – NY Times
For now, countries are betting they can suppress hospital admissions and deaths without imposing more lockdowns, even as case numbers approach peak levels from last spring.
Google Maps Will Now Display Coronavirus Outbreaks And Cases – Forbes
Google Maps will now highlight coronavirus case counts around the world and how bad outbreaks are in each region, Google announced Wednesday, with a new layer dedicated to information about the pandemic.
‘Ibiza of the Alps’ Victims Accuse Austria of Covid Chaos – Bloomberg
Skiers infected with Covid-19 at the resort of Ischgl sued the Austrian government, alleging the authorities’ response was “chaotic” and accelerated the spread of the virus at the station dubbed ‘Ibiza of the Alps.’
Scientists discover genetic and immunologic underpinnings of some cases of severe COVID-19 – NIH
New findings by scientists at the National Institutes of Health and their collaborators help explain why some people with COVID-19 develop severe disease. The findings also may provide the first molecular explanation for why more men than women die from COVID-19.
Vindicated Covid-19 models warn pandemic is far from over – NBC
Modelers have watched with a mixture of horror and frustration as their projections of the pandemic’s evolution have come to fruition.
Clinical Considerations
Bloomberg Prognosis Podcast: The People Who Get Covid-19 Twice
Scientists in Hong Kong reported last month what many had long suspected could happen. Someone who had recovered from Covid-19 caught the coronavirus again. Since then, about a dozen cases of re-infection have been reported worldwide. These cases demonstrate that a natural infection doesn’t lead to lasting protection, and that the pandemic could persist in the human population. Bloomberg News senior editor Jason Gale talked to health experts about what this means for our ability to stop the virus and to produce an effective immunization.
A professional drummer since age 15, Bettinelli has opened for such music greats as Bon Jovi and Pat Benatar, as well as Asia, the Average White Band, The Tubes and the Split Enz, among others.
Data Suggest Young People Spread COVID-19 To Older Adults – NPR
3 min audio at the link – The CDC says coronavirus infection rates over the summer were highest in young adults. But in the South, increased infections among 20 to 39-year-olds preceded rises in infection in people over 60.
Official Reporting for September 24, 2020
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update SEP 21, 2020
Cumulative Cases: 31,798,308
Cumulative Deaths: 973,653
ECDC
Confirmed Cases: 31,969,439
Deaths: 978,284
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 32,062,182
Deaths: 979,701
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total deaths: 201,411
Surveillance Headlines
UNITED STATES
New Mexico: First day with 200 new COVID-19 cases in nearly a month – NM Report
EUROPE
UK: New COVID measures met with scepticism, confusion – Reuters
Finland: Dogs that are trained to sniff out the coronavirus are being deployed at Helsinki Airport – NBC
MIDDLE EAST
Israel: Tightens second lockdown to avoid ‘abyss’ – BBC
LATIN AMERICA
Science and Tech
There’s still no clear path back to any sense of “business-as-usual” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, but United Airlines is embarking on a new pilot project to see if easy access to COVID-19 testing immediately prior to a flight can help ease freedom of mobility. The airline will offer COVID-19 tests (either rapid tests at the airport, or mail-in at home tests prior to travel) to passengers flying from SFO in San Francisco to Hawaiian airports, beginning on October 15.
Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice for testing vaccine efficacy – Science Magazine
Among the research tools necessary to develop medical interventions to treat severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, high on the list are informative animal models with which to study viral pathogenesis. Gu et al. developed a mouse model in which a SARS-CoV-2 strain was infectious and could cause an inflammatory response and moderate pneumonia. Adaptation of this viral strain in the mouse appeared to be dependent on a critical amino acid change, Asn501 to Tyr (N501Y), within the receptor-binding domain of the viral spike protein. The new mouse model was used to study neutralizing antibodies and a vaccine candidate against the virus.
SARS-CoV-2 infection boosts MX1 antiviral effector in COVID-19 patients – Prepreint
In a published case-control study (GSE152075) from SARS-CoV-2 positive (n=403) and negative patients (n=50), we analyzed the response to infection assessing gene expression of host cell receptors and antiviral proteins. The expression analysis associated with reported risk factors for COVID-19 was also assessed. SARS-CoV-2 cases had higher ACE2, but lower TMPRSS2, BSG/CD147 and CTSB expression compared with negative cases. COVID-19 patients’ age negatively affected ACE2 expression. MX1 and MX2 were higher in COVID-19 patients. A negative trend for MX1 and MX2 was observed as patients’ age increased. Principal Component Analysis determined that ACE2, MX1, MX2, and BSG/CD147 expression was able to cluster non-COVID-19 and COVID-19 individuals. Multivariable regression showed that MX1 expression significantly increased for each unit of viral load increment. Altogether, these findings support differences in ACE2, MX1, MX2, and BSG/CD147 expression between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and point out to MX1 as a critical responder in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Antivirals
New mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2 by antiviral drug remdesivir – Science Direct
Researchers have discovered a novel, second mechanism of action by the antiviral drug remdesivir against SARS-CoV-2. The research team previously demonstrated how remdesivir inhibits the COVID-19 virus’s polymerase or replication machinery in a test tube. [Related Study]
Vaccine
US experts vow ‘no cutting corners’ as vaccine tests expand – AP
A huge international study of a COVID-19 vaccine that aims to work with just one dose is getting underway as top U.S. health officials sought Wednesday to assure a skeptical Congress and public that they can trust any shots the government ultimately approves.
Sociological Impact
Hard to reach: COVID-19 responses and the complexities of homelessness – The Lancet
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused more than 954 000 deaths worldwide to date,1
but the burden of morbidity and mortality has fallen unevenly on particular countries and population groups. Worldwide, COVID-19 has been recognised as a potential public health problem among people experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable cohorts such as prisoners.
Broadly, reduced access to health care and basic sanitation, the potential for mobility between services and crowding within facilities, the greater sharing of resources between individuals, substance-seeking behaviours, economic need resulting in employment such as survival sex work,5
and underlying health conditions put such individuals theoretically more at risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. There is growing evidence, however, of regional differences in the impact of COVID-19 on the socially vulnerable.
Published Research
Association of Red Blood Cell Distribution Width With Mortality Risk in Hospitalized Adults With SARS-CoV-2 Infection – JAMA
As Their Numbers Grow, COVID-19 “Long Haulers” Stump Experts – JAMA
Seroprevalence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection Among VA Healthcare System Employees Suggests Higher Risk of Infection When Exposed to SARS-CoV-2 Outside of the Work Environment – University of Washington
Template-dependent inhibition of coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase by remdesivir reveals a second mechanism of action – Journal of Biological Chemistry
Reducing aerosol transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 in hospital elevators – Journal of Environmental Health
Coping in Quarantine
The Pandemic Bike Boom Hits in Some Unexpected American Cities – Bloomberg
Los Angeles and Houston are hardly cycling capitals. But both saw surges in biking after Covid-19 began, according to new data from the fitness app Strava.
Coronavirus Relief Fund Raises Nearly $20 Million for Artists – New York Times
Creative professionals can receive $5,000 grants through the end of the year, thanks to additional funding by the Mellon Foundation and others.