Article Summary
September 17, 2020
Decreased Influenza Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020
There was a 61% decrease in the US in the number of respiratory specimens submitted for influenza testing during the COVID-19 pandemic (49,696 per week during September 29, 2019–February 29, 2020 vs. 19,537 during March 1–May 16, 2020). The rate of test positive decreased by 98% (19% vs. 0.3%) and has remained at historically low…
COVID-19 and Traumatic Stress: The Role of Perceived Vulnerability, COVID-19-Related Worries, and Social Isolation
Perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 was positively related to COVID-19-related worries, social isolation, and traumatic stress, and both COVID-19-related worries and social isolation were significant mediators of the relationship between perceived vulnerability to COVID-19 and traumatic stress. These associations were reported in a study including 747 US adults recruited through an online survey during March 26-April…
Needs and Coping Behaviors of Youth in the U.S. During COVID-19. Journal of Adolescent Health
A sizable proportion of US youth reported experiencing unmet needs and negative emotions due to COVID-19. An open-ended survey conducted in March 2020 among 950 US youth (age 14-24 years) found that 35% reported difficulty accessing or unavailability of essential resources (e.g., food, household supplies, cleaning supplies, money/work). One-fifth of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety…
Preventing COVID-19 Outbreaks in Long-Term Care Facilities Through Preemptive Testing of Residents and Staff Members — Fulton County, Georgia, March–May 2020
There was a considerably higher proportion of positive SARS-CoV-2 test results among residents and staff in long-term care facilities when testing was conducted in response to an initial confirmed case of COVID-19 compared to preventive testing done before cases were detected. In Fulton County, Georgia, testing in response to an initial case in long-term care…
Serial Testing for SARS-CoV-2 and Virus Whole Genome Sequencing Inform Infection Risk at Two Skilled Nursing Facilities with COVID-19 Outbreaks — Minnesota, April–June 2020
During April–June 2020, serial facility-wide testing at two Minnesota skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) identified COVID-19 cases among 64% of residents (N=259) and 33% of health care personnel (N=341). Genetic sequencing found facility-specific clustering of viral genomes from healthcare professionals’ and residents’ specimens, suggesting intra-facility transmission. Taylor et al. (Sept 18, 2020). Serial Testing for SARS-CoV-2…
The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact on Critical Care Resources and Providers: A Global Survey
Female gender, being a nurse, reporting a shortage of ICU nurses and powered air-purifying respirators, as well as poor communication from supervisors were found to be positively associated with emotional distress or burnout among healthcare providers (n=2,700) for critically ill patients with COVID-19. These results were obtained from an electronic 41-question survey administered to health…
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Hospitalized Pregnant Women: Reasons for Admission and Pregnancy Characteristics — Eight U.S. Health Care Centers, March 1–May 30, 2020
Prevalence of pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational diabetes were higher among pregnant women hospitalized for COVID-19–related illness than among women admitted for obstetric reasons and later found to have COVID-19 (44% vs. 31%, and 26% vs. 8%, respectively). These findings were among 105 pregnant women hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in the US from March 1–May 30, 2020….
Mortality Rate and Predictors of Mortality in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients with Diabetes
Older age (≥70 years) and a high serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level significantly predicted mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetes in South Korea. Diabetes was present in 55 (17%) of 324 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 at two tertiary healthcare facilities. The mortality rate was much higher among patients with diabetes than among…
Characteristics and Maternal and Birth Outcomes of Hospitalized Pregnant Women with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 13 States, March 1–August 22, 2020
Among 598 pregnant women hospitalized with COVID-19 during March 1–August 22, 2020 in the US, 272 (45%) were symptomatic at admission, among whom 69 (25%) had severe illness during COVID-19-related hospitalizations, including ICU admissions (n=44), mechanical ventilation (n=23), and death (n=2). Ten women (7 symptomatic and 3 asymptomatic) experienced pregnancy losses. Delahoy et al. (Sept…
Change in Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Over 60 Days Among Health Care Personnel in Nashville, Tennessee
Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels declined over 60 days among all 19 health care personnel in Tennessee who had anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at baseline. In 11 (58%), antibody levels declined substantially enough that they tested negative at 60 days, while 8 (42%) remained seropositive after 60 days. The authors conclude that cross-sectional seroprevalence studies may underestimate rates of…
Previous page Next page