Shanghai reverses course with total lockdowns as covid surges in China – Washington Post
Late on Sunday evening, the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai announced it was going into lockdown, one half at a time, reversing weeks of denying it would impose blanket restrictions on the city’s 25 million residents.
Desperation Hits Shanghai’s Chronically Ill as Infections Soar Despite Lockdown – Bloomberg
Shanghai’s growing Covid-19 outbreak is causing desperation among residents with chronic medical conditions who depend on the increasingly overwhelmed health care system, as even getting to regular appointments becomes nearly impossible.
The more contagious BA.2 version of omicron is now the most common in the U.S. – NPR
A subvariant of omicron that’s even more contagious than the original is now the most common coronavirus strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that the BA.2 strain now accounts for more than half — 54.9% — of coronavirus infections nationwide, according to new data.
Why Some Vaccinated People Resist Omicron and Others Don’t – Bloomberg
The omicron variant spreads so rapidly that sometimes it feels as if resistance is futile. It’s disheartening to hear of omicron infecting people who are up-to-date on their shots and wear an N95 mask every time they leave home. Even some well-known public-health experts are getting infected. But that doesn’t mean everyone is going to get it.
Quarantine or Isolate? CDC’s Covid Tool Helps You Calculate – Bloomberg
Quarantine and isolation have become household words but there’s considerable confusion over the difference between them and when and for how long each should be practiced, especially as policies have been changing with virus variants.
What we know about BA.2 – now the dominant cause of Covid-19 in the US – CNN
The highly contagious Omicron subvariant BA.2 is now the dominant coronavirus strain in the United States, causing more than half of all Covid-19 infections last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.
Majority of U.S. population has Covid antibodies, CDC says — here’s what that means for you – CNBC
Some people are worried that another Covid surge is coming, powered by omicron’s highly contagious BA.2 subvariant. But experts say a significant jump in cases is unlikely, at least for now — possibly due to a recent estimate that nearly all Americans currently have some level of Covid antibodies in their systems.
Vaccine Headlines
Do I really need another booster? The answer depends on age, risk and timing – NPR
Health officials argue that the protection provided by the COVID vaccine booster shots wanes over time. And they are concerned about people considered to be at highest risk of getting severe COVID.
Second Covid-19 Booster Shot Endorsed by FDA, CDC for Adults 50 and Older – WSJ
Older adults will be eligible for a second Covid-19 booster shot under a decision by federal health regulators, who are expected to authorize the additional shots for the broader population in the fall. The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it had cleared extra shots of Pfizer Inc. and its partner BioNTech SE and from Moderna Inc. for adults 50 years and older.
FDA Clears Way for Millions to Get Additional Covid Boosters – Bloomberg
Clinical Considerations
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.
COVID Reinfection Remains Rare in Kids – MedPageToday
Fewer than 0.5% of children infected with COVID had a subsequent COVID infection, and reinfection was not associated with more severe disease, British researchers found.
Long COVID Symptoms May Depend on Dominant Variant – MedPageToday
The dominant variant circulating may play a role in the symptoms that people with long COVID experience, Italian researchers found.
Official Reporting for March 29, 2022
World Health Organization
Weekly Epi Update March 22, 2022 (latest release)
New Cases: 1,674,523
Confirmed Cases: 483,556,595
Deaths: 6,132,461
Johns Hopkins
Confirmed Cases: 485,580,875
Deaths: 6,135,031
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Total cases: 79,827,918 (+26,190 New Cases)
Total deaths: 975,505 (+700 New Deaths)
Science and Tech
Little is known about vaccine effectiveness (VE) of different booster strategies following Ad.26.COV2.S (Janssen [Johnson & Johnson]) vaccination, especially during Omicron variant predominance.
Psychological and Sociological Impact
Severe COVID-19 Infection Associated With Worse Mental Health Symptoms – Psychiatry Advisor
Chronic COVID-19 symptoms, also called “long COVID,” present not only ongoing physical issues, but also a higher risk for depression and anxiety. The finding comes from an observational study on nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19 who experienced symptoms up to 16 months after diagnosis. Researchers published their large observational study in Lancet Public Health.
Published Research
None Today
Misinformation, Disinformation, and Conspiracy Theories
Elon Musk Says He ‘Supposedly’ Has Covid Again – Forbes
Billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has promoted Covid-19 misinformation and fiercely objected to vaccine mandates and stay-at-home orders throughout the pandemic, said on Monday he has “supposedly” contracted the virus for a second time.
Coping with COVID
