Article Summary
June 2, 2020
Pathogenesis Transmission and Response to Re-Exposure of SARS-CoV-2 in Domestic Cats
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Bosco-Lauth et al. showed that cats are susceptible to subclinical infection with SARS-CoV-2, capable of direct transmission to other cats, have prolonged viral shedding for up to 5 days, and develop a neutralizing antibody response that prevents reinfection. Dogs also developed an antibody response but were found to not shed the virus after infection. None of the animals exhibited any clinical…
The Urgency and Challenge of Opening K-12 Schools in the Fall of 2020
Sharfstein et al. argue that reopening of schools in autumn 2020 is an urgent national priority because of loss of access to meals and health services, disparities in internet access, and impacts on academic growth. The authors recommend establishing robust testing, contact tracing and isolation protocols, limiting close contact activities, prioritizing high–risk children, and preparing a strong public health and environmental…
Willingness to Accept Tradeoffs among Covid-19 Cases Social-Distancing Restrictions and Economic Impact A Nationwide US Study
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] A US-based discrete-choice experiment focusing on COVID-19 risk, duration of social distancing measures, and depth and duration of negative economic impacts reveal that respondents (n=5,953) fell into 4 distinct groups: 1) risk minimizers (36%), who prioritized minimizing risk of COVID-19; 2) waiters (26%), who placed little importance on COVID-19 risk but preferred to delay reopening of…
Modeling Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention Guidelines: The Critical Role of Trust in Science
Structural equation modeling on a dataset from an online survey (n=525) shows that COVID-19 risk perception and trust in science are both independent predictors of compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines, while other factors such as political conservatism and religious orthodoxy indirectly affect compliance through trust in science. Plohl and Musil. (June 1, 2020). Modeling Compliance with COVID-19 Prevention…
Physical Distancing, Face Masks, and Eye Protection to Prevent Person-to-Person Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-pharmacological interventions to prevent transmission of betacoronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 reveal that physical distancing by at least 1 meter had lower viral transmission, with protection increasing at longer distances. Face masks also showed a large reduction in infection risk, with stronger associations for N95 or similar respirators as compared to disposable surgical masks or cotton masks. Chu et al. (June 1, 2020). Physical Distancing, Face Masks, and…
June 1, 2020
Using Real-World Contact Networks to Quantify the Effectiveness of Digital Contact Tracing and Isolation Strategies for Covid-19 Pandemic
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Cencetti et al. modeled contact tracing strategies and found that imposing quarantine on contacts with longer exposures at a shorter distance minimized the social cost of quarantine. They found that additional measures needed to be implemented with isolation and tracing to control the outbreak, and that a high level of app adoption was crucial to effectiveness of digital contact tracing. Cencetti et…
The Effectiveness and Perceived Burden of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions against COVID-19 Transmission a Modelling Study with 41 Countries
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Brauner et al. inferred the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions using data in 41 countries. Results suggest a surprisingly large role for schools in COVID-19 transmission (mean reduction in R: 58%. Additional interventions with good effectiveness-burden tradeoffs included limiting gatherings, closing high-risk businesses, and testing persons with symptoms. Closing most nonessential businesses and issuing stay-at-home orders were found to…
COVID-19 Mortality in Patients with Cancer on Chemotherapy or Other Anticancer Treatments: A Prospective Cohort Study
Lee et al. report that a multicenter observational study in the UK found no evidence that cancer patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy or other anticancer treatment were at an increased risk of mortality from COVID-19 compared to those not on active treatment. The mortality is principally driven by advancing age and non-cancer comorbidities. Withholding effective cancer treatments during the pandemic may result in increased cancer morbidity and mortality without preventing deaths from COVID-19. Lee et…
How Efficacious Must a COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine Be to Prevent or Stop an Epidemic by Itself
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Bartsch et al. simulated vaccination strategies for SARS-CoV-2 in the US and concluded that a vaccine with an efficacy of at least 70% and coverage of at least 60% could eliminate the need for social distancing measures if introduced within 90 days of the start of the pandemic. Bartsch et al. (May 30, 2020). How Efficacious Must a COVID-19 Coronavirus Vaccine Be to Prevent or Stop an Epidemic by Itself. Pre-print downloaded June…
Efficacy and Safety of Interferon Beta-1a in Treatment of Severe COVID-19 A Randomized Clinical Trial
[pre-print, not peer reviewed] Davoudi-Monfared et al. report the results of a randomized trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of interferon β-1a (IFN) in patients with severe COVID-19, which showed no significant difference of time to clinical response between the IFN and the control groups (9.7 ± 5.8 vs. 8.3 ± 4.9 days). The IFN group had a higher discharge rate on day 14 and lower 28-day mortality (66.7% vs. 43.6% and 19.0%…
Previous page Next page