Covid-19 Coronavirus Facts and Info

09/05/2023

What is long COVID? What are its symptoms? Can it be treated? Is it dangerous? Researchers have some answers, but it remains one of the pandemic’s great mysteries.

Read about some of the answers we do know right now:
https://www.futurity.org/long-covid-viruses-2914932/

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Researchers dig into what they've learned after a year of studying long COVID—as well as what they don't know about the condition.

07/05/2023

TL;DR: Repeated COVID-19 infections are neither destroying our immune systems NOR completely harmless. Like many things with COVID-19, the truth lies somewhere in between. 🦠😷😱🏥

No, not for most people. But for vulnerable people, repeated infections can still be dangerous. And each infection carries its own risk of Long Covid.

07/05/2023

According to a new COVID-19 forecast model, the pandemic will likely continue for the next two years, with the possibility of seasonal surges, and a ~20+% chance of another Omicron-level event.

While vaccines will continue to play a crucial role in reducing the number of severe cases, the emergence of new variants and waning immunity may lead to more breakthrough infections. Experts recommend continuing to follow public health measures such as mask-wearing and social distancing, as well as investing in research for new treatments and vaccines. 🦠💉😷👥🔬🧪



Read more here:

Experts reached a consensus that there’s a roughly 20 percent chance during the next two years of an outbreak rivaling the onslaught of illness from omicron.

06/05/2023

A great summary of the meaning behind the World Health Organization's ending of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), including what it does and does not mean to us citizens.

Today the World Health Organization declared the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This is a huge moment in our story arc of the fight against COVID-19. Here is what it does and does not mean. What this means The WHO

05/05/2023

New paper out in Nature analyzing the development of COVID-19 therapies and the challenges that remain for anticoronavirals.

Therapeutics for COVID-19 and their development during a pandemic are reviewed, including future prospects for anticoronavirals.

04/05/2023

SARS-CoV-2 is causing frequent, less severe waves of infections due to new variants, rather than settling into a seasonal pattern like influenza. Different countries are coping with these mini-waves in different ways, depending on their previous waves, vaccination rates and public-health measures. Scientists say that explosive, hospital-filling COVID-19 waves are unlikely to return, but the virus will continue to circulate and evolve. They recommend boosting vaccine coverage, monitoring variants and adapting strategies to prevent future outbreaks.

Read more here:

Three years after the start of the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 shows no signs of settling into a seasonal pattern of spread, like influenza has.

03/05/2023

New clues in the mystery of 🤔👨‍🔬. Scientists are investigating viral "reservoirs" - pockets of latent virus that linger in the body - as a possible cause of lingering symptoms. 🦠Reservoirs of other viruses like HIV and Ebola can persist for years. Could SARS-CoV-2 do the same? 🧬 Early research shows viral RNA in organs of patients months after infection. The virus may hide and then reactivate, triggering an immune response that leads to fatigue, brain fog and other problems. Still lots of unknowns but an important lead for researchers trying to solve the long COVID puzzle. 🧩

Read more:

Scientists are turning up more evidence that some people may harbor a viral reservoir in the wake of COVID-19. What could that tell us about long COVID?

02/05/2023

With the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, there is concern about the impact of these variants on the accuracy of COVID-19 tests. Check out this article from the FDA that discusses how SARS-CoV-2 viral mutations can affect the performance of COVID-19 diagnostic tests. The article explains how some tests may be affected by specific mutations and provides guidance on how to interpret test results in light of these mutations. 🦠🧪💉

Includes specific molecular tests impacted by viral mutations and recommendations for clinical laboratory staff and health care providers.

30/04/2023

With Covid in the U.S., we can often see what may be heading our way by paying attention to what's happening abroad. Currently doctors in the UK have reported an uptick in cases of conjunctivitis (aka 'pink eye'), particularly in children, as a symptom of the newest SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant, affectionately known as "Arcturus" in the media. It is important to note, that we don't always follow the same patterns as countries overseas, due to differences in both vaccination and infection-induced immunity. But this is something to keep an eye on (pun intended).

There also seems to be an increased reporting of fever as a symptom (vs. other recent variants).

For more info: https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/health/two-main-symptoms-arcturus-covid-26808588

😷👀 🦠👁️🧪

Arcturus is a subvariant of Omicron which seems to be more transmissible

30/04/2023

As the pandemic emergencies end, MILLIONS of people are still battling long covid and feeling abandoned by policymakers. Long Covid can cause over 200 symptoms and conditions that affect every system in the body and limit people’s ability to work and live normally (note: a more recent study has pinpointed just 7 symptoms that are unique to SARS-COV-2/long Covid). There is no test, treatment, or cure for long Covid, and many patients face emotional and financial struggles. “We feel swept under the rug,” said one long Covid survivor. Read more about their stories and challenges here: https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/long-covid-patients-end-of-pandemic-emergency/

😷🙏🏽💪🏽

Millions of Americans suffer from long covid, which can have debilitating physical effects, including fatigue and difficulty breathing. Yet many patients feel they’re on their own.

29/04/2023

Long COVID is a condition that affects some people who have had COVID-19 and experience persistent symptoms for more than a month. A new study has identified seven symptoms that are more likely to be associated with long COVID than with other respiratory infections. They are: heart palpitations, hair loss, fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, joint pain, and obesity. The study used data from electronic medical records of over 50,000 patients in the US. The researchers hope that their findings will help health care providers and patients recognize and diagnose long COVID more easily.

“Before we examined the data, I thought we would find an ample amount of the symptoms to be specifically associated with long COVID, but that wasn’t the case”

https://www.contagionlive.com/view/the-7-symptoms-directly-related-to-long-covid-

😷🩺💔

University of Missouri investigators found people experiencing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID) are susceptible to developing 7 health defects in the year following infection.

28/04/2023

“Today is a big day. $5 Billion dollars are allocated to next generation Covid vaccines and therapies.”

In his recent post, Dr. Eric Topol discusses the new funding and priority for next generation Covid vaccines and therapies in the United States and argues that we need better vaccines that can induce mucosal immunity through nasal or oral administration, and that can protect against new variants of the virus. He also highlights the need for therapies such as monoclonal antibodies and oral anti-viral pills.
Read more here: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/project-next-gen-the-united-states

💉 🙌 🛡️ 💊

New funding and priority: Nasal vaccines, pan-coronavirus vaccines, monoclonal antibodies

27/04/2023

New evidence suggests COVID-19 can cause new-onset diabetes in some patients, especially type 2 diabetes. It reviews 12 studies that have shown an increased risk of diabetes after COVID-19 infection, ranging from 17% to 97%. It also explores some of the possible mechanisms behind this phenomenon, such as viral damage to the pancreas, immune dysregulation, or metabolic stress. It concludes that more research is needed to understand and prevent this complication of COVID-19.

A new study adds to 11 others for increased risk of Type 2 diabetes

26/04/2023

Traveling by public transportation during the pandemic requires wearing a mask properly and understanding why it matters. Here are some tips from the CDC:

Wear a high-quality mask or respirator over your nose and mouth when you’re in indoor areas of public transportation, such as airplanes, trains, buses or ferries. This helps protect you and others from COVID-19, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated places.

Choose a mask or respirator that fits snugly and has multiple layers of fabric or material. Avoid masks that have exhalation valves or vents, as they allow virus particles to escape. If you wear a cloth mask, make sure it’s clean and dry. If you wear a disposable mask, replace it when it gets wet or dirty.

Follow the mask requirements and recommendations of your transportation operator and local authorities. Some places may require proof of vaccination or testing before travel. Be prepared and flexible, as rules may change during your trip.

Keep your mask on for the entire duration of your travel, unless you need to eat, drink or take medication. When doing so, limit the time your mask is off and put it back on as soon as possible. Avoid touching your mask or face, and sanitize your hands before and after removing your mask.

For more information and guidance on wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings, check out this webpage from CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/masks-public-transportation.html which explains the benefits of wearing masks in travel and public transportation settings, how to choose and wear a mask correctly, and what to do if someone refuses to wear a mask.

CDC travel recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

25/04/2023

"Project Next Gen: The United States" is an in-depth analysis of the current state of the United States and the potential for the country to undergo a major transformation in the coming years. This article delves into a range of topics, from the impact of technology on society to the changing nature of work and the economy. It offers a thought-provoking look at the challenges and opportunities facing the US, and the need for a new generation of leaders to guide the country into the future.

"Project Next Gen is about looking forward, thinking big, and asking tough questions. It's about recognizing the challenges facing the US and embracing the opportunities that lie ahead. It's about building a brighter future for all Americans, and creating a society that is more just, more equitable, and more sustainable."

New funding and priority: Nasal vaccines, pan-coronavirus vaccines, monoclonal antibodies

24/04/2023

As of today, there have been over 33 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. While the numbers can be overwhelming, it's important to stay informed and take steps to protect ourselves and our communities. Let's continue to follow public health guidelines, practice good hygiene, and support each other during this challenging time. Stay safe and stay informed!

06/01/2022

Think “masks don’t work?” They do. The evidence is overwhelming and indisputable. Everything you need to know is right here.

Masks A post or two ago I mentioned a meta-analysis about masks and forgot to include a hyperlink to the study. I know many of you are looking for it, so here it is. In short, the authors pooled 72 studies to assess how different public health mitigation measures (like masks, socially distancing, ha...

19/10/2021

Money quotes:
"Vaccine effectiveness in preventing hospitalization in people ages 12-18 is 93%, according to a newly released report from a collaborative of 19 pediatric hospitals in 16 US states that assessed the initial 2-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. The study was published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The analysis is the first of its kind large enough to pinpoint a precise figure during the Delta era. The protection was similar among patients ages 12-15 compared to those ages 16-18. One reason many teens have yet to receive a Covid-19 vaccination is the belief that Covid-19 does not cause harm to younger people. This myth has been perpetuated by unwise comparisons between age groups. Yes, older people are far more likely to be hospitalized with Covid-19 than adolescents. But the Covid-19 threat in young people can no longer be discounted, as over 70,000 US residents under age 18 have been hospitalized, and thousands more have suffered medium-term serious complications. Over 700 US residents under age 18 have died from Covid-19."

"Among children ages 12-18 who were hospitalized with Covid-19, 97% were unvaccinated. None of the vaccinated children required intensive care. None of the vaccinated children had to be placed in a coma so that they could live on mechanical ventilation (i.e. breathing machines). None of the vaccinated children required “lung bypass” machines (called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO). None of the vaccinated children required medications to support their blood pressure. None of the vaccinated children died. Among the unvaccinated children hospitalized with Covid-19, 44% required intensive care, and 17% required life support (breathing machines, ECMO, blood pressure support). Two patients died."

Data collected during the Delta era finds worst outcomes were prevented.

16/10/2021

Yes, the emergency use authorized vaccine and the fully FDA approved vaccine Comirnaty are, in fact, EXACTLY THE SAME. Only difference is the label.

25/08/2021

Role in the transmission chain: Vaccinated vs. unvaccinated
(https://yourlocalepidemiologist.substack.com/p/role-in-the-transmission-chain-vaccinated)

A summary of the important parts:

--4 things continue to be proven by more data coming in:
1. Vaccines continue to protect amazingly against hospitalization and death, confirmed again by a study that came out yesterday (see attached link for link to the study);

2. Efficacy against mild and moderate disease is reduced. This could be from Delta or waning immunity or both. This is why we eventually need the third dose;

3. Viral load among vaccinated is the same as unvaccinated;

4. …in the first six days. Then the vaccine kicks in and there’s a far faster decline in the load than among unvaccinated.

--If the Delta viral load is the same among vaccinated compared to unvaccinated, are vaccinated contagious? In other words, are vaccinated now part of the transmission chain? Because they weren’t before Delta.

--> Viral load doesn’t necessarily mean contagiousness.

We’re learning more and more about how our vaccines hold up against Delta. I feel like I’m drinking out of a firehose. So, here’s an attempt to get you up to speed… What we knew Last time I updated you (see August 6th post here), the science was telling us four things:

25/08/2021

The inside story behind Pfizer and BioNTech's new vaccine brand name, Comirnaty (https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/pfizer-biontech-select-comirnaty-as-brand-name-for-covid-19-vaccine)

Comirnaty. It’s a name we’ll all know soon. The new brand for Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty mashes up community, immunity, mRNA and COVID—pretty much everything that could fit into the moniker for the world's most high-profile product at the moment.

25/08/2021

Great information about Ivermectin, which is all over the news right now.

Ivermectin for Covid-19: abundance of hype, dearth of evidence
(https://www.statnews.com/2021/08/25/ivermectin-for-covid-19-abundance-of-hype-dearth-of-evidence/)

Here's a pretty good summary:

Ivermectin developers were awarded a Nobel Prize in 2015 for the drug’s success in combatting river blindness and other tropical maladies (and is highly effective in killing parasite larvae in humans, and of course has a veterinarian class for animals).

Dr. Pierre Kory, in his testimony to U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in December 2020, cited several non-randomized observational studies, in which patients can receive non-standardized treatments, as well as many poor-quality controlled trials, but effectively hailed it as a "miracle drug."

One key study he referred to out of Egypt, was found by more than one peer to be full of plagiarism and data fabrication. That study has since been retracted.

One of the Australian epidemiologists who peer-reviewed said study: "If you remove this one study from the scientific literature, most meta-analyses that have found positive results would have their conclusions entirely reversed."

A group called the Cochrane Collaboration spends its time conducting meta-analyses of the best-conducted clinical trials. After excluding dozens of ivermectin studies with “high risk of bias,” the collaboration left little room for optimism.

The World Health Organization and the Infectious Diseases Society of America concur. Even Merck, an ivermectin manufacturer, avers that there is “no meaningful evidence for clinical activity or efficacy in patients with Covid-19.” And just last weekend the FDA warned people not to use the drug as a treatment for Covid-19.

The University of Oxford’s rigorously designed PRINCIPLE trial is now trying to determine if ivermectin actually benefits people with Covid-19.

Ivermectin is touted by some as a cure or preventive for Covid-19, with one proponent calling it a "miracle drug." It isn't.

07/06/2021

Let’s dispel the OLD news (from last summer/fall) that the vaccines don’t reduce transmission, shall we? It was suspected that vaccines also reduced transmission all along, but authorities were hesitant to say so without the data to back it up. Now we have more (large scale) data pouring in and the results are well on the way to confirming their initial theories.

Q: Do the COVID-19 vaccines reduce transmission?

A: YES! Evidence continues to mount that the vaccines REDUCE BOTH ASYMPTOMATIC INFECTIONS AND TRANSMISSION.

➡️ While the Nerdy Girls are still dreaming of a world where transmission was explicitly tested in the clinical trials (☎️ call us next time), the data pouring in from around the world strongly suggests that the vaccines are very good (but not perfect) at reducing ALL infections & by extension transmission.

Recall the main question—the clinical trials (largely) tested only participants who developed symptoms. One possible scenario is that vaccines greatly reduce the severity of COVID-19, even to the point of no symptoms, while still allowing the virus to replicate in the nose and throat and potentially be spread to others. This is the top scenario in the attached (and awesome) infographic from Dr. Natalie Dean.

The lower part of the infographic shows a 2nd scenario. Here ALL types of infections are reduced by the vaccine, including asymptomatic. This means much less virus hanging around in any one’s nose or throat ➡️ much less transmission. Scientists have always expected this would be the case based on other vaccines, but quantifying the effect is harder.

To answer this question, we’re most interested in real world studies that also tested for ASYMPTOMATIC ILLNESS, which we now have from several cohorts of Health Care Workers (HCW) in the UK and US.

➡️ The SIREN study included over 23,000 HCWs in the UK tested with PCR tests every two weeks & additional lateral flow tests twice a week (positives confirmed by PCR). The study covers Dec 8, 2020- Feb 5, 2021, a period of surging case rates in the UK. The Pfizer vaccine was primarily used, with only a small % receiving the Astrazeneca vaccine by this time.

The study found:
💥 70% reduction in asymptomatic and symptomatic infection >21 days after 1st shot.
💥 85% reduction in asymptomatic and symptomatic infection >7 days after 2nd shot.

We Nerdy Girls like the design of this study because it started at the very beginning of vaccine roll-out in the UK, and almost all HCWs enrolled eventually got the vaccine during the study (~90%). This reduces our concern that people who chose to get the vaccine might be different from those who don’t in ways that impact their infection risk, the problem that randomized trials are designed to avoid.

➡️ CDC Study
A similar study of 4,000 HCWs in the US came out recently from in the CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report (MMWR). These participants were also tested weekly to pick up BOTH asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. The vaccines used were primarily Pfizer.

They found:
💥 80% reduction in asymptomatic and symptomatic infection >14 days after 1st shot.
💥 90% reduction in asymptomatic and symptomatic infection >14 days after 2nd shot.

This study is smaller than the UK one, and raises some additional concerns about the comparability of vaccinated and unvaccinated groups with lower take-up among HCW in the US. Nonetheless, the low levels of asymptomatic infection among vaccinated workers is striking and very encouraging.

Another study from the US tested around 40,000 people coming in for other procedures at the Mayo Clinic. Again, the advantage here is the ability to pick up *asymptomatic* infections that the person is not aware of.
Results:
💥 79% reduction in asymptomatic infection >10 days after 1st shot.

🙋‍♀️ What If I’m vaccinated but STILL test positive, am I less infectious?

➡️ Signs point to YES! A study from Israel found that average viral load of those testing positive 12 days or more after 1st vaccination was significantly lower than those within 12 days or those unvaccinated. Lower viral load very *likely* means people are less infectious.

➡️ More evidence on this front comes from a recent large household study in the UK. This study matched new positive cases and their household contacts to vaccination records.

“Index” (those identified first) cases >21 days past ONE dose of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine were:

💥 40%-50% less likely to pass along the virus to someone else in their household compared to unvaccinated people.

💥 This reduction is ON TOP of the estimated large reductions in the chances of being infected in the first place after one dose of these vaccinations.

BOTTOM LINE…GOOD NEWS!
💥 Vaccines reduce both asymptomatic & symptomatic infection
💥 People without detectable virus unlikely to pass infection to others
💥 Vaccinated people who do test positive less likely to transmit

➡️ VACCINES GREATLY REDUCE TRANSMISSION

➡️ CAVEAT:
This protection is high, but not 100%, so precautions are still warranted in the presence of unvaccinated people, especially those at higher risk of severe disease. Also remember that out in public you don’t always know who is vulnerable or might have lower immune response to vaccines due to immunosuppression. Be a good citizen while we push cases down even lower!

Love,
Those Nerdy Girls

__________________________
Further reading:
SIREN study:
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3790399

Mayo clinic study:
https://academic.oup.com/cid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/cid/ciab229/6167855?

CDC/MMWR study CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7013e3.htm

Study on viral load reduction:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-021-01316-7

UK household transmission study:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/one-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-can-cut-household-transmission-by-up-to-half

03/02/2021

Side effects are just a sign that protection is kicking in as it should.

02/02/2021

Great rebuttal to a anti-vaccine article making the rounds. Be informed, not afraid!