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June 30, 2020
COVID-19 Outcomes among People with Intellectual and Developmental Disability Living in Residential Group Homes in New York State
Landes et al. found that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) living in residential group homes in New York State were at elevated risk of COVID-19. The case rate was 8% among people with IDD compared to 2% for the general population in New York State. The case fatality rate was 15.0% and 7.9%, respectively. Landes et…
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in U.S. Children and Adolescents
Feldstein et al. identified 186 cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) between March 15-May 20, 2020 in pediatric health centers in 26 US states. Most children were positive for SARS-CoV-2 (n=131; 70%) and were previously healthy (n=135; 73%). SARS-CoV-2 associated MIS-C led to serious and life-threatening illness: 148 children (80%) received intensive care, 37 (20%)…
Combination of Antibody Based Rapid Diagnostic Tests Used in an Algorithm May Improve Their Performance in SARS CoV-2 Diagnosis
[pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Kushemererwa et al. evaluated 13 rapid-diagnostic IgG/IgM antibody tests for SARS-CoV-2 to inform the development of a diagnostic algorithm for use in settings where PCR-based diagnostics are not available. PCR–positive samples used for the evaluation were collected 0-28 days after the patient was confirmed positive. They evaluated 78 possible combinations of 2 assays to be used in parallel. The individual sensitivities of…
Absence of SARS-CoV-2 in Semen of a COVID-19 Patient Cohort
Guo et al. assessed the presence of viral RNA in semen of 23 patients during the acute and recovery phases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. All patients tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in semen specimens, suggesting that sexual transmission through semen is unlikely to be a common mode of transmission. Guo et al. (June 29, 2020). Absence of SARS-CoV-2…
Characteristics of Adult Outpatients and Inpatients with COVID-19 — 11 Academic Medical Centers, United States, March–May 2020
Tenforde et al. conducted telephone interviews with a random sample of 350 adults with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test result in outpatient and inpatient settings at 11 academic medical centers in 9 states. Only 46% reported known contact with a COVID-19 case, most commonly a family member (45%) or work colleague (34%). Among individuals who were employed,…
Exposures Before Issuance of Stay-at-Home Orders Among Persons with Laboratory-Confirmed COVID-19 — Colorado, March 2020.
Marshall et. al. assessed COVID-19 exposures among a random sample of Colorado residents who had tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 in the 18-day period preceding Colorado’s stay-at-home-order on March 26. Only 27% (99/364) reported known contact with a laboratory confirmed COVID-19 case, 47% of which occurred at work and 24% within their household. Among the remaining 73%…
Sentinel Coronavirus Environmental Monitoring Can Contribute to Detecting Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Virus Spreaders and Can Verify Effectiveness of Workplace COVID-19 Controls
[pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Workplace screening of asymptomatic employees in Europe and the US identified otherwise undetected cases in the workplace. Environmental testing showed that locations with SARS-CoV-2 contaminated surfaces were 10 times more likely to have employees who were RT-PCR positive than locations with no or very few positive surfaces. Nine workplace locations in Europe and…
Autoclave Sterilization and Ethanol Treatment of Re-Used Surgical Masks and N95 Respirators during COVID-19: Impact on Their Performance and Integrity
Autoclave sterilization and a 70% ethanol treatment of surgical masks and N95 respirators are commonly utilized by hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic to conserve supplies. However, Grinshpun et al. found that these methods compromise the efficiency, filter breathability, and, in some cases, cause physical damage to these masks. The authors conclude that decontamination and re-use of surgical and N95…
June 29, 2020
Serial Laboratory Testing for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Incarcerated and Detained Persons in a Correctional and Detention Facility — Louisiana, April–May 2020
Among 98 incarcerated and detained persons in a Louisiana facility who were quarantined for exposure to SARS-CoV-2, 71 (72%) developed SARS-CoV-2 infection, including 32 (45%) who did not have symptoms at the time of testing. Additionally, 18 persons developed a positive test after originally testing negative, indicating that serial testing for close contacts identified additional persons with SARS-CoV-2 in this setting. Njuguna et al. (June 29, 2020). Serial Laboratory…
Neighborhood Income and Physical Distancing during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the U.S.
[pre-print, not peer-reviewed] Using smartphone mobility data, Jay et al. found that the increase in the proportion of individuals staying at home by April 2020 in neighborhoods with a high median income was more than double that of neighborhoods with low median income (11% vs 27%). People in low–income neighborhoods were more likely to work outside of the…
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