Featured Headlines

What is bubonic plague? – BBC

A suspected case of bubonic plague has been reported to Chinese authorities. It is not known how the patient became infected, but the country is on alert for more cases. Plague is one of the deadliest diseases in human history – but it can now be easily treated with antibiotics.

Scientists urge WHO to address airborne spread of coronavirus – Washington Post

In a forthcoming paper titled “It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of Covid-19,” 239 signatories attempt to raise awareness about what they say is growing evidence that the virus can spread indoors through aerosols that linger in the air and can be infectious even in smaller quantities than previously thought.

10 Examples Of Covid-19 Coronavirus Advice That May Be Difficult To Follow

Giving vague general advice is easy. Do what you love. Surround yourself with good people. Find a mentor. YOLO. Don’t stick your tongue into an electric socket. But offering specific advice that actually fits a person’s particular life context? That’s a lot more difficult to do and thus much less common. And that’s been yet another problem with the response to this ongoing Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Keeping COVID-19 outside of summer camps is a nearly impossible challenge – NBC

Campers and staff members promise to isolate before they arrive at camp, but in several cases the pandemic has arrived with them.

Maskless Parties And Crowded Beaches Across U.S. As Coronavirus Spikes Over Holiday Weekend – Forbes

Coronavirus cases hitting new all-time highs in the U.S. weren’t enough to keep thousands of Americans from ignoring the pleas of public health experts who warned against large gatherings, with scenes of crowded beaches, packed parks and maskless parties common across the U.S. this weekend during Fourth of July celebrations.

WHO reports record rise in global coronavirus cases – Washington Post

A record number of new coronavirus cases was reported globally Saturday, with the United States, Brazil and India showing the biggest increases, according to data from the World Health Organization.

SARS-CoV-2 Makes Cells Sprout Infectious Tentacles – Labroots

scientists have now learned that when a cell is infected by SARS-CoV-2, it may grow long extensions called dendrites or filopodia that are studded with virus particles like a tentacle. These filopodia will then search for other cells and can reach through their walls, in what appears to be a second way of spreading infection through the body. This study, which will soon be reported in Cell, indicated that uninfected cells sometimes exhibit filopodia too, but their appearance is less frequent, and they are much shorter.

Clinical Considerations

Stroke More Likely in COVID-19 Than Flu Patients – MedPageToday

Ischemic stroke rate appears more than seven times higher with coronavirus. Stroke occurred in 1.6% of nearly 2,000 COVID-19 patients who visited an emergency department (ED) or who were hospitalized — a rate more than seven times higher than the stroke rate in a comparable series of influenza patients. [Related JAMA report]

If you’re over 75, catching covid-19 can be like playing Russian roulette – MIT Technology Review

Are you hiding from covid-19? I am. The reason is simple: the high chance of death from the virus.

I was reminded of the risk last week by this report from the New York City health department and Columbia University which estimated that on average, between March and May, the chance of dying if you get infected by SARS-CoV-2 was 1.45%

New study finds evidence between COVID-19 and ‘COVID toes’ symptom – CTV

A new study has found evidence supporting a link between “COVID toes” — bluish-red or purple lesions that can appear on the feet and hands of children and young adults — and the novel coronavirus. [Related Study]

Why is COVID-19 so deadly to elders – Mercury News

Infection by the COVID-19 virus triggers a rush of immune cells into the lungs, causing patients to suffocate.

COVID-19 and the heart: Searching for the location of the SARS CoV-2 receptor – Rome Sentinel

Nearly 20 percent of all COVID-19-associated deaths are from cardiac complications, yet the mechanisms from which these complications arise have remained a topic of debate in the cardiology community. One hypothesis centers on the infection of the heart itself, but the understanding of which cells may be infected is unclear. [Related Study]

Months of Trial and Error in the ICU Offer Clues on How to Save Covid Patients – Bloomberg

Sanja Jelic’s worst day in almost two decades as a critical care doctor in New York City was April 6. Faced with an unmanageable influx of coronavirus patients at Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s step-down unit, an intermediate care ward, Jelic made an unorthodox decision: she asked those struggling to breathe to roll onto their bellies while they waited for intubation to mechanically ventilate their inflamed lungs.

Official Reporting for July 6, 2020

The Dentist Will See You Now. But Should You Go? – NPR

Add dental visits to the list of services you can book now or shortly as cities, counties and states continue to modify their months-long stay-at-home orders aimed at reducing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.

My Gym Is Reopening. Is It Safe To Work Out There? – NPR

Exercise is good for physical and mental health, but with coronavirus cases surging across the country, exercising indoors with other people could increase your chance of infection. So, as gyms reopen across the country, here are some things to consider before heading for your workout.