Category: COVID
What to Know About the New Covid Variants
New York Times HV.1 has overtaken EG.5 as the leading variant in the U.S. Two closely related variants, EG.5 and HV.1, now comprise roughly half of the Covid-19 cases in the United States. EG.5 became the dominant variant nationwide in August. At that time, the World Health Organization classified it as a “variant of interest,” meaning it […]
Oct 31, 2023
COVID Viral Load Peaks Later Now Than Early in Pandemic
MedPageToday Peak on day 4 of symptoms, rather than day 1, has implications for rapid tests, experts say. Viral load in COVID-19 infection peaks later now than in the early days of the pandemic, driving implications for rapid testing, researchers say. A paper published in Clinical Infectious Diseases has been generating discussion among experts, who say high […]
Oct 24, 2023
Could low serotonin levels contribute to Long COVID?
ABC News A new study suggests this may lead to symptoms seen in long COVID patients. Decreased levels of serotonin in the body may be a contributing factor in the development and persistence of so-called ‘long COVID’ symptoms, according to a new study. Researchers suggest that, even after acute COVID symptoms subside, traces of the virus […]
Oct 17, 2023
GCHS COVID Update by Dr. Lawler
UNMC GCHS Dr. Lawler provides recent data and the 2023-2024 season outlook on the 3 main respiratory viruses: COVID-19, RSV, and Influenza.
Oct 17, 2023
Long COVID, ‘Long Cold’: What to Know About Post-Acute Infection Syndromes
Yale Medicine Researchers are exploring how various pathogens cause chronic symptoms. As researchers learn more about Long COVID and what causes coronavirus symptoms to persist, attention is shifting to other post-acute infection syndromes, including what some are calling “long cold.” It’s long been known that various viruses can cause symptoms—sometimes mild, sometimes debilitating—to persist for […]
Oct 17, 2023
Can Rapid COVID Tests Reveal More Than a Positive/Negative Result?
MedPageToday Experts agree that rapid antigen test kits can show degrees of infectiousness. At-home rapid COVID-19 tests can reveal more about viral load than a simple positive/negative result, according to experts. “By definition, the basic technology suggests that you somehow have to go from a negative ‘zero’ line to a dark line, and within that […]
Oct 11, 2023
Why you should wait a few days before taking an at-home COVID test if you’re sick
ABC News The best time to take an at-home COVID-19 test may be on the fourth day of having symptoms, according to a study published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Researchers looked at nearly 350 people and found that viral load peaked a few days after symptoms started. “Viral load just refers to the amount of virus […]
Oct 3, 2023
About 250,000 courses of COVID pill Paxlovid being administered per week – Pfizer CEO
Reuters Pfizer Inc’s chief executive said on Tuesday that almost 250,000 courses of the drugmaker’s oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid were being administered per week as cases surged in the United States. Speaking at the Cantor Fitzgerald Annual Healthcare Conference, Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla said the company is still uncertain about when Paxlovid, which is […]
Sep 27, 2023
Are Your Expired COVID Tests OK to Use? Find Out Here
C|Net Even if your COVID-19 test kits show they’ve expired, their shelf life could’ve been extended. With COVID-19 cases on the rise once again, you’re likely checking your at-home COVID-19 test kits to make sure they haven’t expired since you received them last year. However, even if your box shows they’re no longer good, it’s […]
Sep 26, 2023
Report highlights the skyrocket, peak of highly cited COVID-19 research studies
CIDRAP A new survey of highly cited COVID-19 research papers shows the scientific literature on the novel coronavirus rose at an astronomical pace, from just 14 studies in January and February 2020 to 1,292 studies in November to December 2021. The study is published in JAMA Network Open. The cross-sectional study surveyed global publications from January 2020 […]
Sep 19, 2023