Category: COVID
U.S. Offers Free At-Home Covid Tests as Part of Winter Plan
(New York Times) With cases on the rise, the Biden administration restarted a program that has provided hundreds of millions of tests through the Postal Service. Households are now able to order four tests at covidtests.gov, with shipments beginning next week.
Dec 16, 2022
The Coronavirus May Spread From Corpses, Scientists Report
(NYT) Like a zombie in a horror film, the coronavirus can persist in the bodies of infected patients well after death, even spreading to others, according to two startling studies. The risk of contagion is mainly to those who handle cadavers, like pathologists, medical examiners and health care workers, and in settings like hospitals and […]
Dec 16, 2022
Farewell, Fauci
(MedPageToday) VIDEO Anthony Fauci, MD, talks about retirement, pandemics, and “The Godfather” with Jeremy Faust, MD In this exclusive video, Jeremy Faust, MD, editor-in-chief of MedPage Today, sits down for a conversation with Anthony Fauci, MD, before his departure from the NIH at the end of the year. The following is a transcript of their remarks: […]
Dec 16, 2022
China Covid: Hospitals under strain in wave of infections
(BBC) China’s hospitals are already under so much pressure, following the country’s rapid 180-degree shift in Covid policy that doctors and nurses could be infecting patients. It seems frontline medical workers are being told to come in even if they have the virus themselves because of staff shortages.
Dec 13, 2022
How COVID-19 Immunity Works at This Point in the Pandemic
(Time) When SARS-CoV-2 was a brand-new virus, it met little resistance in immune-naïve hosts—that is, us. Vaccines, boosters, and infections have increased our immunity to varying degrees. But how much protection do each of these provide at this point in the pandemic? Here’s what researchers are learning about how the human body reacts to COVID-19 […]
Dec 13, 2022
Scientists’ understanding of long covid is improving
(Economist) PODCAST Our podcast on science and technology. This week, we examine the latest research into what may be causing long covid, and ask whether the hunt for answers could shed light on other chronic conditions. SOON AFTER the pandemic began, another health crisis started to emerge. Long covid now affects millions of people around the world. […]
Dec 13, 2022
It’s Time to Wear a Mask Again, Health Experts Say
(NYT) A high-quality, well-fitting mask is your best protection against infection from the coronavirus, influenza and R.S.V. Masks are back, and, this time, they’re not just for Covid-19. A “tripledemic” of the coronavirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, known as R.S.V., sweeping through the United States has prompted several cities and counties, including New York City and Los […]
Dec 13, 2022
China’s Rapid Covid Reversal Sparks Whiplash as Cases Surge
(Bloomberg) Covid is rapidly spreading through Chinese households and offices after the country’s pandemic rules were unexpectedly unwound last week, sparking confusion on the ground as ill-prepared hospitals struggle to deal with a surge in cases.
Dec 12, 2022
Omicron subvariants that more easily dodge immunity are causing more than 70% of U.S. infections
(CNBC) The BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 Covid subvariants are now responsible for 68% of new cases, while the XBB subvariant is causing 4.7% of new infections. Covid infections and hospitalizations are rising after Thanksgiving, with Christmas and the New Year holidays still around the corner. These subvariants are resistant to key antibody treatments, and studies indicate […]
Dec 12, 2022