Article Summary
April 2, 2020
Asymptomatic and Human-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a 2-Family Cluster, Xuzhou, China.
Li et al report findings from 7 patients in a 2-family cluster, confirming asymptomatic transmission through contacts in familial and hospital settings. Laboratory test results and medical therapies are described to provide a practical reference for diagnosis and treatment. Li et al. (April 2, 2020). Asymptomatic and Human-to-Human Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a 2-Family Cluster,…
Disparities in Age-Specific Morbidity and Mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in China and the Republic of Korea
The authors analyze morbidity and mortality data from China and South Korea by age and sex. Results showed a normal distribution in China with peak morbidity at ages 50-59, and a bimodal distribution in Korea with the highest peak morbidity at ages 20-29 and a second peak at ages 50-59. The study suggests that poor…
Quantifying SARS-CoV-2 transmission suggests epidemic control with digital contact tracing.
The authors conclude that viral spread of SARS-CoV-2 is too fast to be contained by manual contact tracing, but could still be controlled with a more efficient contact tracing app. Widespread implementation of such an app, especially if combined with improved early testing, could play a critical role in reducing the need for lockdown measures….
A phased lift of control: a practical strategy to achieve herd immunity against Covid-19 at the country level.
The authors discuss a phased lift of stringent interventions, allowing for gradual herd immunity while keeping the number of cases within the limits of health care systems. The paper acknowledges that this would be most feasible in smaller countries with robust healthcare systems, but that larger countries could implement this approach in specific regions. Vlas…
April 1, 2020
COVID-19 Related School Closings and Risk of Weight Gain among Children.
Rundle et al. call attention to the pandemic’s longer-term effect on children’s health following school closures. They report this may exacerbate the epidemic of childhood obesity and increase disparities in obesity risk. The authors recommend innovative approaches to address food insecurity and increase physical activity within the constraints of social distancing or full stay at…
Unprecedented Solutions for Extraordinary Times: Helping Long-Term Care Settings Deal with the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In the presence of unprecedented morbidity and mortality in long term care (LTC) facilities for the elders in Washington State, Gaur et al. highlight staffing and resource challenges, and discuss why LTC settings have the most notable burden of COVID-19 cases among all segments of the healthcare system. They provide a series of recommendations for…
No Evidence for Temperature-Dependence of the COVID-19 Epidemic
Jamil et al examined the relationship between the apparent exponential rate of SARSCoV-2 spread and the Basic Reproductive number of infection (R0) and the average daily temperature across the globe and Chinese provinces. The current distribution of the epidemic infers that SARS-CoV-2 does not behave as a seasonal respiratory virus and negates the speculation that…
Impact of COVID-19 on psychiatric assessment in emergency and outpatient settings measured using electronic health records.
Castro and Perlis analyzed the narrative clinical notes on psychiatric symptoms to quantify the impact of increasing COVID-19 infection on extent of psychiatric assessment in emergency departments and outpatient settings across 5 Eastern Massachusetts hospitals. They report a sharp decline in notes referencing depression or anxiety in outpatients’ settings and emergency departments in the face…
Mental health in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cullen et al. in their commentary anticipate a considerable increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms among people (public health professionals and the general public) who do not have pre-existing mental health conditions, with some experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder in due course during the COVID-19 pandemic. They provide a list of 4 recommendations government or states…
Timely Diagnosis and Treatment Shortens the Time to Resolution of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pneumonia and Lowers the Highest and Last CT Scores from Sequential Chest CT
Huang et al. conducted a limited study of 25 patients to assess correlations of the time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment with the time to disease resolution and CT scores from sequential chest CT examinations. They report that the time from symptom onset to diagnosis and treatment, had a positive correlation with the…
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