Featured Headlines
Coronavirus Less Severe In Children In New Study, Corroborating Past Findings – Forbes
Among 149,760 cases of lab-confirmed US COVID-19 cases between February 12-April 2, 1.7% were children and adolescents, a total of 2,572 patients under 18 years old. One third were from New York City, nearly a quarter (23%) were from New York state, 15% from New Jersey and 29% from other places in the US. A slightly higher proportion of boys (57%) than girls had COVID-19 among pediatric cases. [Related Study] [Related Article]
U.S. Governors coordinate ventilator plans as US COVID-19 deaths top 10,000 – CIDRAP
Governors from coast to coast are working to share ventilators and make a plan to distribute the machines to hot spots as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps across the United States.
The COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA Clinical Update – JAMA
Since the first US case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection as identified in Washington State on January 20, 2020, more than 235 000 cases have been identified across the US in just over 2 months. Given the challenges in expanding testing capacity and the restrictive case definition of persons under investigation, the true number of cases is likely much higher. By March 17, the outbreak had expanded from several isolated clusters in Washington, New York, and California to all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As of April 2, there have been more than 5000 COVID-19–associated deaths in the US. With a global total now of more than 1 million cases, the US is now the country with the largest number of reported cases, comprising about one-fifth of all reported infections.
A leading forecasting model used by the White House to chart the coronavirus pandemic predicted Monday that the United States may need fewer hospital beds, ventilators and other equipment than previously projected and that some states may reach their peak of covid-19 deaths sooner than expected.
Coronavirus Updates: Projecting The Curve, Government Responses – NPR [Audio]
NPR science and politics correspondents relay the latest updates in the United States response to the coronavirus epidemic.
Heart Damage in COVID Patients Puzzles Doctors – Scientific American
Up to 1 in 5 hospitalized patients have signs of heart injury. As more data comes in from China and Italy, as well as Washington state and New York, more cardiac experts are coming to believe the COVID-19 virus can infect the heart muscle. An initial study found cardiac damage in as many as 1 in 5 patients, leading to heart failure and death even among those who show no signs of respiratory distress.
COVID-19: On average only 6% of actual SARS-CoV-2 infections detected worldwide – Science Daily
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease officially issued by countries dramatically understates the true number of infections, a report suggests. Researchers used estimates of COVID-19 mortality and time until death from a recent study to test the quality of records. This shows that countries have only discovered on average about 6% of infections. The number of infections worldwide may already have reached several tens of millions. [Related Study]
Epidemiologist says COVID-19 may be more infectious than thought – Harvard Gazette
Citing spread on ships and health care facilities, professor suggests moving some nursing home residents out and increasing surveillance
Surveillance
Official Reporting for April 7, 2020
| WHO SITREP #77 | ECDC | Country Data | Johns Hopkins | |
| Confirmed Cases | 1,210,956 | 1,244,421 | 1,359,398 |
| Deaths | 67,594 | 68,976 | 75,944 |
Total deaths: 8,910
Travel Related: 1,600
Close Contact: 6,332
Under Investigation: 322,959
Total Cases: 330,891
Surveillance Headlines
USA
Multi-State: Grocery workers are beginning to die of coronavirus – Washington Post
Louisiana: Coronavirus disparity in Louisiana: About 70% of the victims are black, but why? – NOLA.com
Texas: Texas City nursing home residents with coronavirus being treated with unproven hydroxychloroquine drug – Texas Tribune
New York: 731 deaths of coronavirus even as hospitalization slowdown offers hope NY Daily News
Apr 7, 2020 Confirmed Cases in New York
Europe
Spain: Coronavirus Crisis Accelerated as Warnings Went Unheeded – New York Times
U.K.:Prime Minister Boris Johnson In Intensive Care Unit Due To COVID-19 – NPR
Russia: Moscow Has Most Of Russia’s COVID-19 Cases, But Work Stoppages Are Nationwide – NPR
Asia
Indonesia: Announces biggest daily rise in coronavirus cases, 24 doctors now dead – Reuters
Apr 7, 2020: Indonesia Confirmed Cases
China: After Easing Social-Distancing Rules, 20,000 Visitors Flooded Huangshan mountains in Anhui province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. – South China Morning Post
Japan: State of emergency to cover Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures – Japan Times
Middle East
Pakistan: Struggles to track down 100,000 attendees of Tablighi Jamaat religious event – South China Morning Post
Science and Tech
Researchers at the University of Iowa and the University of Georgia have developed a vaccine that fully protects mice against a lethal dose of MERS, a close cousin of the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19. [Related Study]
Published Research
Pre-Pub (not yet peer reviewed, should not be regarded as conclusive)
Infection Prevention
3M, Announces Deal For 55 Million U.S. Masks Per Month – Forbes
3M will import 55.5 million N95 face masks per month, primarily from its manufacturing facilities in China, specifically for U.S. health workers, totalling 166.5 million masks over the next three months.
Mask decontamination methods: Strengths, weaknesses, gaps – Harvard Gazette
The growing severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in the supply chain have resulted in severe shortages of N95 masks and reports of frequent mask reuse. This practice poses serious safety risks to healthcare workers. To help decision-makers develop back-up procedures that are as safe as possible, researchers from Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, and other institutions teamed up to evaluate existing N95 decontamination methods and plot a practical course forward for implementing them.
Safety Advice If You Must Visit the Grocery Store – WSJ
With communities across the country virtually shut down, there is still one place nearly everyone needs to visit at some point: the grocery store. Experts say deliveries are safer, but sometimes it can be hard to get one scheduled right away. So if you must go to the store, what’s the best way to navigate the aisles and crowds? Information and guidance about the virus is changing quickly, so we asked the experts.