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April 6, 2020
Predicting Whom to Test is More Important Than More Tests – Modeling the Impact of Testing on the Spread of COVID-19 Virus By True Positive Rate Estimation.
The author used modeling to simulate the effects of increasing true positive rates of testing and the number of tests per day on slowing spread of COVID-19, and reports that the true positive rate can increase with large increases in testing or by improving the prediction on whom to test. To better allocate tests, a…
Evidence that higher temperatures are associated with lower incidence of COVID-19 in pandemic state, cumulative cases reported up to March 27, 2020
Results from this study suggest there is some association between COVID-19 incidence and regions at or above 30° latitude N (i.e. China- 31°; Italy- 41°) and a breakpoint at 72.5°F at which a significant reduction of case rates was observed. While the study does not confirm the COVID-19 cannot survive or transmit in warm and…
Detection of 2019 novel coronavirus in semen and testicular biopsy specimen of COVID-19 patients.
Song et al conducted RT-PCR testing in semen samples from 12 patients who were in the recovery stage of COVID-19, and from a testicular tissue sample from 1 deceased patient. They found no evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can infect the male genital tract or testes, indicating that the virus cannot be sexually transmitted from males. Song…
Could SARS-CoV-2 be transmitted via speech droplets?
Anfinrud et al describe their use of laser light-scattering to detect SARS-CoV-2 droplet emission while speaking and suggest that it could be a major mode of transmission. While droplets emitted from speaking are smaller than those emitted when coughing or sneezing, they are sufficiently large to carry other respiratory pathogens, such as the measles virus…
Cryptic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Washington State
Bedford et al sequenced 346 SARS-CoV-2 genome from samples collected between February 20 and March 15 in Washington State. The majority of infections appeared to have derived from a single introduction event in late January or early February, suggesting cryptic spread of COVID-19 during the months of January and February. These findings highlight the critical…
Widespread use of face masks in public may slow the spread of SARS CoV-2: an ecological study
In this ecological study, the authors found that countries that promoted widespread face mask usage had lower cumulative numbers of COVID-19 diagnosis after controlling for testing intensity and age of the epidemic. While cautioning about the ecological fallacies, the study supports widespread usage of face masks in public in addition to the full package of…
April 3, 2020
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Among Residents and Staff Members of an Independent and Assisted Living Community for Older Adults — Seattle, Washington, 2020
This MMWR highlights that symptom-based screening might not identify SARS-CoV-2 infections in independent and assisted living facility residents. These findings underscore the importance of SARS-CoV-2 mitigation measures, including social distancing, visitor restriction, resident and staff member testing, exclusion of ill staff members, and enhanced disinfection and hygiene practices, which are consistent with current CDC guidance…
Rapid Sentinel Surveillance for COVID-19 — Santa Clara County, California, March 2020
Local health departments can potentially use sentinel surveillance to understand the level of community transmission of COVID-19 and better guide the selection and implementation of community mitigation measures; as demonstrated by Santa Clara County, CA. Zwald et al. (Apr 3, 2020). Rapid Sentinel Surveillance for COVID-19 — Santa Clara County, California, March 2020. MMWR. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6914e3external
Electronic Personal Protective Equipment: A Strategy to Protect Emergency Department Providers in the Age of COVID-19
Turer et al recommend using electronic personal protective equipment (ePPE) – an approach that uses telemedicine tools to perform electronic medical screening, in order to protect staff and conserve PPE while providing rapid access to emergency care for suspected COVID-19 cases. Turer et al. (Apr 2, 2020). Electronic Personal Protective Equipment: A Strategy to Protect…
Knowledge and behaviors toward COVID-19 among U.S. residents during the early days of the pandemic.
The survey results in this study indicate that while knowledge about COVID-19 is generally high in the U.S., there are differences in knowledge and behaviors based on age, sex, education, income, race, and political party affiliation. A national, coordinated effort at pandemic response may ensure better compliance with behavioral recommendations to address this public health…
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