Article Summary
July 2, 2020
Risk Factors Associated with COVID-19 Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Contacts Tracing
In a retrospective cohort study of 11,580 contacts of COVID-19 cases in Guangdong, China the overall risk of SARS-CoV2-infection based on RT-PCR testing was 4.5% (515/11,580). Higher risk was seen among children (RR=2.6) and old people aged 60-69 years (RR=5.3) compared to young adults aged 20-29 years, higher among females than males (RR=1.66), and higher among family members of an index cases (spouse: RR=20.7; non-spouse family members: RR=9.6). Infection risk was higher for contacts exposed to an index case during the symptomatic period…
Neurologic and Radiographic Findings Associated With COVID-19 Infection in Children
Abdel-Mannan et al. report that 4 previously-healthy children had neurological symptoms among 27 children with COVID-19 pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome admitted to a hospital in London, UK. All 4 children required intensive care unit admission. Abdel-Mannan et al. (July 1, 2020). Neurologic and Radiographic Findings Associated With COVID-19 Infection in Children. JAMA Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.2687
A Scalable Method of Applying Heat and Humidity for Decontamination of N95 Respirators during the COVID-19 Crisis
There was no significant degradation of mask filtration efficiency in tests of the effect of a heating protocol for sterilizing masks prior to reuse in a selection of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators. Three out of five models passed fit testing after heating, and the two models that did not pass fit testing also had low fit scores prior to heating. The authors conclude this heating protocol is practical…
Mass Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Residents and Staff in Twenty-Eight Long-Term Care Facilities in Fulton County Georgia
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] A mass screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in 28 long-term care facilities (5,671 residents and staff) in Fulton County, Georgia, revealed significantly higher prevalence of infection in 15 facilities that screened in response to a known infection compared to 13 facilities that screened as a prevention measure (i.e., no cases had yet been reported by the time of screening) (28.9%…
Excess Deaths From COVID-19 and Other Causes, March-April 2020
Woolf et al. report a total of 505,059 deaths from all causes in the US between March 1-April 25, 2020. Of these, 87,001 (95%CI, 86,578-87,423) were considered excess deaths beyond what would normally be expected during this time period, and 56,246 (65%) of these were attributed to COVID-19, suggesting that the number of COVID-19 deaths reported in the first weeks of the pandemic captured only two-thirds…
Estimation of Excess Deaths Associated With the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States, March to May 2020
Weinberger et al. report that there were approximately 122,300 more deaths (95%PI, 116,800-127,000) in the US from March to May 2020 than would typically be expected. There were approximately 781,000 total deaths identified in the US during this period, including 95,235 deaths officially attributed to COVID-19. The number of excess all-cause deaths was 28% higher than the official tally of COVID-19 deaths during that period. There was…
Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Within a Psychiatric Hospital and Considerations for Limiting Transmission Within Residential Psychiatric Facilities – Wyoming, 2020
All patients (n=46) and heath care personnel (n=171) who participated in a point prevalence survey at Wyoming’s state psychiatric hospital had negative PCR results for SARS-CoV-2 infection, despite admitting two patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The authors suggest that the hospital’s expanded COVID-19 infection prevention and control procedures might have been effective in preventing the introduction and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Callaghan et al. (July 3, 2020). Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection…
Data From the COVID-19 Epidemic in Florida Suggest That Younger Cohorts Have Been Transmitting Their Infections to Less Socially Mobile Older Adults
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Daily incidence of newly–reported COVID-19 cases among adults aged 20-59 years and ≥60 years increased in 16 counties in Florida soon after the full Phase 1 reopening went into effect. The author coupled this analysis with results from an SIR model, which supports the hypothesis that younger persons, having first acquired their infections through increasing social contact with their peers, then transmitted their infections to…
July 1, 2020
Half of Rural Residents at High Risk of Serious Illness Due to COVID‐19, Creating Stress on Rural Hospitals
Based on data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 50% of rural residents are at high risk for hospitalization and serious illness if they were to be infected with COVID-19, compared to 47% “micropolitan” and 40% in metropolitan areas. Kaufman et al. estimate that rural residents will generate an estimated 10% more hospitalizations for COVID-19 per capita than urban residents…
Initial and Repeated Point Prevalence Surveys to Inform SARS-CoV-2 Infection Prevention in 26 Skilled Nursing Facilities — Detroit, Michigan, March–May 2020
Sanchez et al. found that repeated point prevalence surveys at 26 Detroit skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) identified an attack rate of 44% among SNF residents. Within 21 days of diagnosis, 37% of infected patients were hospitalized and 24% died. Among 12 facilities participating in a second survey and receiving on-site infection prevention and control support, the percentage of newly identified cases decreased…
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