Article Summary
August 10, 2020
Genetic Variability in the Expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Host Cell Entry Factors across Populations
Ortiz-Fernández and Sawalha report significant variability in genetic determinants of the expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, two enzymes that might regulate the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infiltrate host cells, among individuals and between populations. African populations showed a genetic predisposition for lower expression of both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 compared to South or East Asians, Europeans, and an…
COVID-19–Associated Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children — United States, March–July 2020
Godfred-Cato et al. describe symptoms, treatment, and outcomes for a cohort of 570 pediatric patients with COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIC-S). The median patient age was 8 years; 55% were male, 41% were Hispanic or Latino, 33% were non-Hispanic black, and 13% non-Hispanic white. Although about 2/3 of patients did not report any…
Hospitalization Rates and Characteristics of Children Aged <18 Years Hospitalized with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — COVID-NET, 14 States, March 1–July 25, 2020
An analysis of pediatric hospitalization data from 14 states found that although the cumulative rate of COVID-19-associated hospitalization among children (8 per 100,000 population) is low compared to adults (165 per 100,000), one in three hospitalized children was admitted to an intensive care unit, which is similar to the proportion among hospitalized adults. Infants less than three months accounted for…
SARS-CoV-2 Clearance in COVID-19 Patients with Novaferon Treatment: A Randomized, Open-Label, Parallel Group Trial
Novaferon, a medication modeled after human interferons, effectively inhibited replication of cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a laboratory setting. Healthy cells that were incubated with the drug also resisted the entry of SARS-CoV-2. In a clinical trial, patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 (n=89) randomized to receive Novaferon or Novaferon plus Lopinavir/Ritonavir had significantly higher viral clearance rates on day 6 after treatment than patients…
CRISPR-Based and RT-QPCR Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic Individuals Uncovers a Shift in Viral Prevalence among a University Population
[pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Testing of oropharyngeal self-collected samples for SARS-CoV-2 among asymptomatic students and others associated with the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) found that none of 732 samples from the first round of testing (May 28 to June 11) were positive and that there were 9 positives out of 1,076 tests in the second round (June 23 to July 2). The authors report near-perfect concordance in results…
Comparing Nasopharyngeal Swab and Early Morning Saliva for the Identification of SARS-CoV-2
Among 217 asymptomatic adult males who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and had subsequently been isolated at a quarantine center for 8 to 10 days, 160 (74%) tested positive again based on saliva, nasopharyngeal swab, or both. The detection rate for SARS-CoV-2 was higher in saliva compared to nasopharyngeal swab testing (93% vs. 53%). Concordance between the two tests was 46%. Rao…
Notes from the Field: Characteristics of Meat Processing Facility Workers with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection — Nebraska, April–May 2020
Among 1,216 workers from a Nebraska meat packing facility tested for active SARS-CoV-2 infections in late April, 375 (31%) had positive results by RT-PCR. Case investigators following up with those who tested positive were able to reach 241 workers. Of these, 57% were male, the median age was 41, and 46% were Hispanic. Of the 163 (68%) symptomatic respondents, two were hospitalized….
Is There an Adequate Alternative for Commercially Manufactured Face Masks? A Comparison of Various Materials and Forms
Teesing et al. compared homemade masks made from various readily available materials to N95, FFP2, and KN95 masks. The homemade versions were tested for their ability to filter at least 35% of 0.3 micron particles, to maintain their hydrophobic properties, to seal on the face, breathability, and washability. Leather, a folded coffee filter between quilt fabric, a folded household paper…
Excess Deaths and Hospital Admissions for COVID-19 Due to a Late Implementation of the Lockdown in Italy
Palladino et al. evaluated the effect of the national lockdown in Italy and compared ICU admission, general hospital admissions, and deaths to estimated numbers that may have resulted if the lockdown had started one week earlier. They conclude that an earlier implementation of the lockdown would have avoided about 60% of cases, 52% of non-ICU…
Acceptability of App-Based Contact Tracing for COVID-19: Cross-Country Survey Evidence
Altmann et al. measured support for digital contact tracing of COVID-19 infections using anonymous online surveys of 5,995 people in France, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the US. In spite of concerns about cyber-security and privacy and a lack of trust in governments, they found strong support (>68%) for installing and using a digital contact tracing app that would…
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