Article Summary
February 8, 2021
SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk from Sports Equipment (STRIKE)
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A study investigating the potential of shared sporting equipment transmission vectors of SARS-CoV-2 during the reintroduction of sports found that it was unlikely that equipment is a major route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Ten different types of equipment were inoculated with 40μl droplets containing clinically relevant high and low concentrations of live SARS-CoV-2…
Incubation Period of COVID-19: A Meta-Analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies (n = 99) published through January 10, 2021 concluded that the average incubation period for SARS-CoV-2 was 6.4 days, with a range of 2.3 to 17.6 days. 23 cohort studies, 61 case series, and 15 modeling studies were included, most of which reported data from patients with SARS-CoV-2…
COVID-19 Transmission in Educational Institutions August to December 2020 Rhineland-Palatinate Germany a Study of Index Cases and Close Contact Cohorts
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A study of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in schools and daycare centers in Germany from August-December 2020 showed that the risk of infection among contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case was low but varied depending on type of educational institution and whether the case was a teacher or student/child. Out of 784 index cases,…
The Impact of State Mask-Wearing Requirements on the Growth of COVID-19 Cases in the United States
An ecological study conducted from January-October 2020 found differences in median COVID-19 case rates (per 100,000) between states who adopted mask requirements “early” (before June 12, 15 states, rate = 5.7), “late” (after June 12, 19 states, rate = 5.59) or “never” (17 states, rate = 5.99). Models that controlled for confounders and interactions between…
February 5, 2021
Sexual Orientation Disparities in Risk Factors for Adverse COVID-19-Related Outcomes, by Race/Ethnicity – Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2017-2019
Several underlying health conditions associated with risk for developing more severe COVID-19–related illness were more prevalent among sexual minority persons, according to data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The presence of greater numbers of risk factors were observed when compared to heterosexual individuals, both within the overall population and specific racial/ethnic groups….
Decreases in Young Children Who Received Blood Lead Level Testing During COVID-19 – 34 Jurisdictions, January-May 2020
34% fewer US children aged <6 years had blood lead level (BLL) testing during January–May 2020 when compared to January–May 2019, according to data from 34 state and local health departments. The authors estimate that reduced testing due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to missed identification of 9,603 children with elevated BLLs. Courtney et…
Comparative cost-effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies in the USA: a modelling study
A mathematical model suggests that in communities where the SARS-CoV-2 is spreading rapidly, weekly testing coupled with a 2-week isolation period after a positive test is advisable. The authors assessed eight surveillance testing strategies that varied by testing frequency (from daily to monthly testing) and isolation period (1 or 2 weeks), compared with the status-quo…
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Prevalence of Stress and Worry, Mental Health Conditions, and Increased Substance Use Among Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, April and May 2020
During April and May 2020 among US adults aged ≥18 years, the overall prevalence of depression was 29%, initiating or increasing substance use was 18%, and suicidal thoughts/ideation was 8%, according to a cross-sectional survey. Hispanic adults reported a higher prevalence of psychosocial stress related to not having enough food or stable housing than did…
Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral loads in young children do not differ significantly from those in older children and adults
A multicenter study of SARS-CoV-2 cases (n=5,544) confirmed by RT-PCR assay found no significant differences in viral concentration (as measured by Ct values) across different age groups. In particular, the children less than 5 years old did not display higher nasopharyngeal viral loads than older children or adults. Madera et al. (Feb 4, 2021). Nasopharyngeal…
Efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 VOC
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] The efficacy the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (Oxford-AstraZeneca; AZD1222) against the B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2 was similar to the efficacy against parent lineages, with 74% efficacy (95% CI, 42-89%) against B.1.1.7 compared to 84% efficacy (95% CI, 71-91%) against non- B.1.1.7 lineages. Vaccine-induced antibodies had an approximately nine-fold reduction in neutralization activity…
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