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May 18, 2020
Use of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors and Risk of COVID-19 Requiring Admission to Hospital: A Case-Population Study
Despite earlier concerns, de Abajo et al. found no evidence that RAAS inhibitors increase the risk of COVID-19 requiring admission to hospital, including fatal cases and those admitted to ICUs. The authors conducted a case-population study in Madrid, Spain including 1,139 patients and controls matched for age, sex, region, and date of admission to hospital at a ratio of 10:1….
Children with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review of Demographic, Clinical, Laboratory and Imaging Features in 2,597 Pediatric Patients
Among a cohort of 2,597 pediatric patients with COVID-19, a low proportion exhibited lymphopenia (9.8%) compared to adults. Elevated creatine kinase MB isoenzyme was much more commonly observed in children (27%) than that in adults, raising some concerns about heart injury in pediatric patients. Cui et al. (May 17, 2020). Children with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Review of Demographic, Clinical, Laboratory…
Establishment of an African Green Monkey Model for COVID-19
African green monkeys can be used as an animal mode for SARS-CoV-2 infection. African green monkeys experience high levels of SARS-CoV-2 replication and develop pronounced respiratory disease following a much lower and more natural dose of SARS-CoV-2 than has been employed in other non-human primate studies. The heterologous response of African green monkeys along with the ability to collect tissues and longitudinal samples permits a…
Early and Massive Testing Saves Lives COVID-19: Related Infections and Deaths in the United States during March of 2020
A prediction model using COVID-19 data from the US up to March 31, 2020 indicates that early testing for SARS-CoV-2 with a large number of tests per capita is associated lower cumulative mortality in eighteen states. Hittner et al. (May 16, 2020). Early and Massive Testing Saves Lives COVID-19: Related Infections and Deaths in the United States during March of 2020. Pre-print downloaded May 18 from https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.05.14.20102483
IgA MAb Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Spike-ACE2 Interaction Providing Mucosal Immunity
Ejemel et al. identified a cross-reactive human IgA monoclonal antibody (MAb362) than can bind to both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins and competitively block hACE2 receptor binding. It also neutralizes both pseudotyped SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 in human epithelial cells expressing hACE2. MAb362 IgA may provide effective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 by inducing mucosal immunity within the respiratory system, a potentially critical feature of an effective vaccine. Ejemel et al….
Evidence of Increasing Diversification of Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Strains
Analyses of complete genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 strains from around the world reveals increasing diversification of SARS-CoV-2 strains in three different genetic clades. The time of the most recent common ancestor was established to be around November 1, 2019, with a mean rate of evolution of 6.57 x 10–4 substitutions per site per year. High evolutionary rates and…
Understanding the Indoor Pre-Symptomatic Transmission Mechanism of COVID-19
Arav et al. developed an evidence-based mathematical model to identify the mechanism of how pre-symptomatic individuals transmit SARS-CoV-2. The model explicitly quantifies the dynamics of contact and airborne transmission between individuals indoors. Modeling results show the main transmission mechanism is through close contact, mostly directly but also mediated by fomites, while the contribution of the airborne route is negligible. Based in the model, frequent hand washing and fomite cleaning, coupled…
May 15, 2020
COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities – United States, February-April 2020
During April 22–28, 2020, aggregate data on COVID-19 cases were reported to CDC by 37 of 54 state and territorial health department jurisdictions. Among these, 86% reported at least one laboratory confirmed case from a total of 420 correctional and detention facilities. There were 4,983 infections and 88 deaths among incarcerated or detained persons, and 2,778 infections and…
Preliminary Estimate of Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 Outbreak – New York City, March 11-May 2, 2020
Applying a seasonal periodic model (as used for monitoring seasonal influenza) to estimate expected deaths, Olson et al. found that 24,172 out of 32,107 (75%) deaths in New York City from March 11-May 2, 2020 were in excess of what would have been expected. Of these 24,172 deaths, 13,831 (57%) were laboratory-confirmed COVID-19-associated and 5,048 (21%) were probable COVID-associated. The remaining 5,923 (22%) excess deaths may be directly or indirectly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. …
Time Is of the Essence Impact of Delays on Effectiveness of Contact Tracing for COVID-19
Researchers modeled the impact of delays in contact tracing strategies (CTS) and found that testing delay (time between onset of symptoms to testing and diagnosis) could seriously attenuate any contact tracing efforts. A testing delay of 3 days would require contacts to be traced within 1 day and with 80% coverage to keep the effective reproduction number (R) below…
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