Article Summary
August 6, 2020
Lifting COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Restrictions: Impact on Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Northeast Georgia
Ling et al. collected data at a large, community health system in Georgia from February 1–June 12, 2020 and describe a decrease in heart failure hospitalizations during the emergency declaration and shelter-in-place periods, followed by a return to a level similar to baseline after the reopening. These data were compared to the same period in 2019 (Jan 31 to June 12). The weekly hospitalization admission rate for heart failure during weeks 1-5 (prior to emergency declaration) were comparable (27.4/week in 2019 vs. 28.2/week in 2020). During the…
COVID-19 Outbreak Among Employees at a Meat Processing Facility — South Dakota, March–April 2020
Steinberg et al. reported an outbreak of COVID-19 among employees at a meat processing facility in South Dakota during March 16–April 25, 2020. A total of 929 (26%) employees and 210 (9%) of their contacts were diagnosed with COVID-19. Two employees died. The highest attack rates occurred among employees who worked <6 feet from one another on the production line. Steinberg et al. (Aug 7, 2020)….
Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Alcohol Consumption in Patients with Pre-Existing Alcohol Use Disorder
Kim et al. conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey among patients with pre-existing alcohol disorders (n=182) in London 2 months after lockdown started in the UK. During lockdown, 43 (24%) reported an increase and 34 (19%) reported a decrease in their alcohol intake as assessed by AUDIT score. In a subset of 69 (38%) patients who were abstinent before lockdown, 12 (17%) relapsed during lockdown. Mean AUDIT…
Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Children
Goyal et al. performed a cross-sectional study of 1,000 children attending a community-based SARS-CoV-2 testing site from March 21-April 28, 2020 in Washington, DC and determined infection rates by race/ethnicity and estimated median family income (MFI). They found that the infection rates were significantly higher among racial and ethnic minority children (30% among non-Hispanic Black children, 46% among Hispanic children, 7% among non-Hispanic-white children) and among children in less socioeconomically advantaged households (9% in 4th MFI quartile, 24%…
An Increasing Public Health Burden Arising from Children Infected with SARS-CoV2: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zheng et al. conducted a meta-analysis of 14 eligible studies (n=410 patients) to estimate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among children. The pooled proportion of asymptomatic infection was 41% (95%CI 24-57%), and the pooled proportion of infections associated with family or household infections was 84% (95% CI 76-90%). No differences by gender were observed. Zheng et al. (Aug 5, 2020). An Increasing Public Health Burden Arising from Children Infected with SARS-CoV2: A Systematic Review…
Excess Mortality from COVID-19 in an English Sentinel Network Population
Joy et al. used data from a large cohort study in the UK to calculate the excess mortality from COVID-19. They estimated that the mortality risk between early January and mid-May 2020 was 1,089 per 100,000 person-years. The excess mortality rose steadily from late March to a peak in mid-April, after which it declined. Joy et al. (Aug 4, 2020). Excess Mortality from COVID-19 in an English Sentinel Network Population. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30632-0
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Health Care Personnel in the New York City Area
Among 46,117 healthcare workers at a large New York State health system who underwent SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing, 13.7% were seropositive. In a multivariate analysis, high self-reported suspicion of virus exposure was associated with seropositivity (RR=1.2, 95%CI 1.2-1.3). Seropositivity was significantly lower among healthcare workers with no previous RT-PCR test result (9%, 3077/34251), compared to those with a prior RT-PCR test (34%, 2186/6078). Among individuals with a prior positive RT-PCR test…
Rapid GMP-Compliant Expansion of SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cells from Convalescent Donors for Use as an Allogeneic Cell Therapy for COVID-19
[Preprint, not peer-reviewed] Cooper et al. isolated CD4 and CD8 memory T cells specific to SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid, and membrane antigens from convalescent plasma donors who had recovered from mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. They report that these T cells can be rapidly expanded to therapeutic doses while maintaining the desired central memory phenotype required for protective immune responses against severe COVID-19 infections. Cooper et al. (Aug 5, 2020). Rapid GMP-Compliant Expansion of SARS-CoV-2-Specific…
Placental Barrier against COVID-19
Komine-Aizawa et al. performed a narrative review summarizing evidence from pathological examinations of placental tissues in mothers with COVID-19, finding that these tissues are often infected with SARS-CoV-2 although fetuses are not always infected. They review potential mechanisms for SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission. The authors conclude that although placentas are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, they may partially protect fetuses. Komine-Aizawa et al. (July 25, 2020). Placental Barrier against COVID-19. Placenta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.placenta.2020.07.022
Clinical Course and Molecular Viral Shedding Among Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Community Treatment Center in the Republic of Korea
Lee et al. examined viral shedding among asymptomatic (36%) and symptomatic (64%) patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were isolated in a community treatment center in South Korea (n=303) and found that viral loads did not differ significantly between the groups based on amplification of 3 viral genes (RdRp, N, env). During isolation, the proportion who converted to a negative RT-PCR test result was similar between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (34% vs. 30% at day 14, 75% vs. 70% at day 21) without a statistically significant…
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