Coronavirus News Explained

Children and COVID-19: Is it Safe to Reopen Schools?     Since the first outbreak of coronavirus in the U.S early this year, schools have gradually shut down and moved to online education. Government officials believed that it was safer for students to participate in distance learning as opposed to learning in a crowded classroom. However, children are the least likely to become infected with COVID-19 as p revious research has shown that coronavirus susceptibility and severity increases with age. (See Who's at Risk ) A new study published on June 16, 2020 in Nature Medicine , investigates the effect of COVID-19 in children and provides useful information on how safe it is for schools to reopen.     Risk of Infection     Children and teens are known to be less likely to develop COVID-19 infections but how much lower is their risk of infection compared to the older population? Age-based COVID-19 transmission models were created using...

Different Types of Masks and their Efficacy      The CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,  has recommended the public to wear face masks when going outside and stores require the use of a face mask for entry. Studies have proven that face masks are effective against COVID-19 and wearing them can prevent transmission. (See Efficacy of Masks Post ) There are many types of face masks/coverings, some being more effective than others. This post will walk you through the most common types of face masks and how effective each type is.  Surgical Masks     A surgical mask is a loose-fitting disposable mask that creates a barrier between the wearer's nose/mouth and droplets or other contaminants from the environment. Surgical masks can filter out large particles in the air but are less effective in blocking out smaller (aerosol) particles which can be transmitted through coughing or sneezing. The loose fit of the mask also gives room for germs and co...

Blood Type Linked with COVID-19 Respiratory Failure      Respiratory failure and COVID-19      Since the first case of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China during late 2019, the virus has rapidly made its way all around the world. In Europe, Spain and Italy were among some of the countries hit hardest with a reported 60,000 coronavirus related deaths by the end of May. The main cause of coronavirus related deaths have been linked to patients who are more susceptible to respiratory failure.  Other factors that put patients at high risk include older age, gender, and other underlying conditions. (See Who's at Risk ) The Experiment          To further investigate the relationship between COVID-19 and susceptibility to respiratory failure, Tom Karlsen of the University of Oslo in Norway, conducted a study (posted June 2, currently undergoing peer-review) involving 1,980 patients from five COVID-19 hotspots throughout Spain and Italy...

Herd Immunity: What is it and will it Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19       M any countries are enforcing strict social distancing and shelter-in-place regulations to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, other countries such as Sweden and briefly Britain are taking a completely different approach. Sweden has been resisting shelter-in-place orders in hope of achieving herd immunity before a vaccine is developed. This approach of course, comes with consequences. Sweden has one of the highest mortality rates in the world and their approach to herd immunity is going very slowly. So, what is herd immunity and is it achievable? What is Herd Immunity     Herd immunity occurs when enough of a population is immune to a disease that it won't spread very far to those who aren't immune. This immunity can be developed if the person has already been exposed to the disease or has been vaccinated. For example, if 70% of a population is immune to a virus, 7 out of 10 peop...

What You Need to Know about the COVID-19 Vaccine     With many states beginning to reopen after three months of shelter-in-place orders, people are anxious to get back to normal state of living and put the coronavirus behind them. However, none of this is possible without effective protection against the virus. Vaccines are the solution to this problem. During flu season, many people will receive vaccination shots to prevent sickness from the flu. A vaccine created to prevent COVID-19 will act similarly and is the best hope for ending the pandemic. Currently, no vaccine has been made to prevent COVID-19 but scientists and researchers are working hard to develop a vaccine. Here's what you need to know about the vaccine for COVID-19. What is a Vaccine and How Will it Help     When you become exposed to a disease or infection, your body's immune system creates antibodies to fight off the viruses/bacteria. Vaccines contain weakened or dead viruses/bacteria. This con...

Will the Approaching Summer Climate Slow the Spread of the COVID-19?           With summer being only a month away, many are hoping that the warmer climate will help slow the spread of coronavirus during the U.S.'s reopening phases. In support of this idea, some studies of similar viruses have indicated that cold and dry conditions increase the transmission of the virus. Among these viruses, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus have both shown an increase in transmission during times of low specific humidity and a reduction of cases in the summertime. However, not all viruses behave the same. Other infections such as enteroviruses, show peaking in the summer season. We do not know how COVID-19 will behave in response to changes in climate.      On May 18, 2020,  Science Magazine  published an  article  predicting the effects of climate on COVID-19.   Their study focused on two coronaviruses ( HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-O...

Coronavirus Precautions- Is 6 feet enough?     Many people have taken the precautions to stay inside and avoid contact with others. However, it is inevitable that one will have to go outside eventually, whether it be for groceries or a breath of fresh air. Multiple states are also in the process of reopening so many people will face some sort of social interaction in the near future. The CDC recommends that everyone stay a minimum of six feet apart when going outside to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. But is 6 feet enough to prevent infection? How far the Virus can travel     The distance a respiratory droplet can travel is dependent on many factors including the type of emission, temperature and humidity. Most droplets evaporate in the air with smaller droplets in warmer climates evaporating faster. A  study published in JAMA, Journal of American Medical Association , shows that gas clouds from a human sneeze can travel a distance ...

COVID-19: Who's at High Risk             A s of May 2020,  the coronavirus has taken the lives of over 76,000 individuals in the United States. You may be wondering what the chances are of you or a loved one contracting the virus and getting hospitalized. On April 17, 2020, the CDC, Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, began to release weekly reports of COVID-19 demographics across the U.S. Their reports, which tell us who's most at risk for the coronavirus, highlight four main categories: Age, Gender, Race and Underlying Conditions. Age      The CDC reports show that as age increases, so does the rate of COVID-19 associated hospitalization. Age groups 5-17 years have the lowest hospitalization rate with a rate of 0.1%. The rates were the highest in age groups  >  65 years with a rate of 13.8%. Out of those aged  >  65 years, age groups  >  85 years had the highest hospitalization rate ...

How Long Does the Coronavirus Last on Different Surfaces?           The most effective way to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is to stay at home and avoid going to public gatherings. However, staying at home does not completely protect yourself from the virus. Even at home, there's still exposure to the outside world through contact with packages, groceries and mail. A concern some people may have is that the virus could linger on these different surfaces. How long can the coronavirus survive on mail, packages and groceries and how likely is it to be infected through contact with a contaminated surface? Studies and Data      A new study , published on April 16, 2020 in the New England Journal of Medicine , examined how long the novel coronavirus can survive in the air and on different surfaces (copper, cardboard, stainless steel and plastic). Based on the results of the paper, in each environment, the virus had a different lifespa...