Category: Covid-19

How long after a potential COVID-19 exposure will you become infected? Though many studies have estimated the incubation period of COVID-19, it is not well known whether the viruss average incubation period has changed throughout the course of the pandemic.

A recent study, published this week in JAMA, conducted a systematic review of the incubation periods of different COVID-19 variants of concern. The investigators also sought to determine the overall pooled incubation period of COVID-19 and the average COVID-19 incubation period across different vulnerable populations.

Knowledge of COVID-19s incubation period is vital, as it informs virus definition, contact tracing, patient follow-up, and public health protocol.

The meta-analysis utilized PubMed, EMBASE, and ScienceDirect to find peer-reviewed studies using the keywords novel coronavirus,SARS-CoV-2,2019-nCoV, orCOVID-19and eitherincubation periodorincubation. A total of 142 studies, with 8112 patients, met the inclusion criteria. From this review, the investigators determined the average incubation period to be 6.57 days, ranging from 1.80 to 18.87 days.

The incubation period of the wild-type, Wuhan strain was determined to be 6.65 days. Broken down by variants of concern, the incubation period of COVID-19 was 5.00 days for Alpha, 4.50 days for Beta, 4.41 days for Delta, and 3.42 days for Omicron. This suggests that as COVID-19 mutates, the incubation time decreases.

Analyzed by other demographics, the mean incubation period was 8.82 days for children, 7.43 days for patients over 60 years of age, 6.99 days for patients with non-severe illness, and 6.69 days for patients with severe illness.

COVID-19 seemed to have a longer incubation period than other acute respiratory viral infections, including human coronavirus (3.2 days), influenza A (1.43-1.64 days), parainfluenza (2.6 days), respiratory syncytial virus (4.4 days), and rhinovirus (1.4 days). Previous SARS studies have found the incubation period of to be correlated with disease severity, and fatal cases had the shortest incubation period.

These study findings indicate COVID-19 has and will likely continue to mutate, producing variants with enhanced transmission and virulence. Identifying the incubation period is vital to inform the length of isolation after an exposure. This highlights the importance of taking COVID-19 precautions to prevent its spread and inhibit infectious mutations.

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The Shrinking Incubation Period of COVID-19 - Contagionlive.com

Biden, who is currently in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, tested positive again for Covid-19 with an antigen test on Wednesday. She tested negative during a routine test on Tuesday.

Donohue says the first lady has not had a reemergence of symptoms. She added that a "small number of close contacts" with whom Biden had recent contact have been notified.

President Biden tested negative Wednesday, a White House official told CNN. Following US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the President will mask for 10 days indoors because he is considered a close contact, the official said.

Donohue told CNN that Jill Biden will remain at the family beach house in Delaware until she once again has two consecutive negative test results.

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First on CNN: Jill Biden tests positive for rebound case of Covid-19 - CNN

Beneficial non-specific effects of live vaccines against COVID-19 and other unrelated infections  The Lancet

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Beneficial non-specific effects of live vaccines against COVID-19 and other unrelated infections - The Lancet

LomAs Africa strives to recover from the deepfelt impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, health authorities and experts gathering this week for the Seventy-second session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa launched a new drive to find ways of revamping the regions health systems.

At a special event on Rethinking and rebuilding resilient health systems in Africa during the 22 26 August Regional Committee meeting in Lom, Togo, delegates examined the measures that have worked in achieving universal access to health care as well as the shortfalls. They also explored ways to maintain essential services during outbreaks and the investments and actions needed to ensure equitable access to quality medical products and health technologies.

The scope and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic put great pressure on Senegals health system, said Dr Marie Khemesse Ngom Ndiaye, Senegals Minister of Health. But thanks to (its) Resilience Programme and Investment Plan, Senegals health system has considerably strengthened disease prevention and management capacities.

COVID-19 has not only exerted enormous pressure on health systems but also sounded the alarm on the need to reform and revitalize the continents health systems. Even as countries stepped up measures including surveillance, prevention, clinical care and vaccination in the wake of the pandemic, further efforts are essential to render the health systems more robust and resilient.

The pandemic has also added to the African regions existing health challenges. More than any other part of the world, the region responds to more than 100 health emergencies every year. During emergencies many countries face shutdowns of health programmes due to staff reassignments, supply chain disruptions as well as movement restrictions. These disruptions undermine progress towards universal health coverage and lay bare inequities in access to health care.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of our continents health infrastructure and the urgent need to strengthen the overall health system to secure access to quality care for all Africas people, when and where they need it, without incurring financial hardship, said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director to Africa. Domestic investment in health, including health research, has significant economic returns, while promoting resilience and sustainability; healthy populations translate to healthy economies.

Despite the disruptions due to outbreaks and other challenges, African countries have made progress in improving access to health services. For example, the number of countries scoring over 40% (medium coverage) on the universal health coverage index has increased from three out of 47 countries to 35 between 2000 and 2019.

The special event launched at the Regional Committee kicks off a collective process to support African countries as they ramp up efforts to recover from the pandemic-triggered disruptions and work to rebuild better their health systems. A series of consultations and actions will follow to support countries in achieving universal health coverage and health security.

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Transforming Africa's health system in wake of COVID-19 pandemic - WHO | Regional Office for Africa

We're all familiar these days with rapid COVID tests, those over-the-counter swab tests that give us two lines if we're infected with COVID-19, one line if we're not. Now, researchers have come up with a different test that measures whether you're protected from COVID, and not whether you have it.

The test works with a simple finger prick, and could answer the questions: "Am I protected today?" and "Do I need a booster?"

Edward Chen, a science writer with our editorial partner STAT News, talks to Here & Now's Scott Tong about the strengths and weaknesses of the new antibody test.

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New COVID-19 test could answer the question: 'Am I protected today?' - WBUR News

By Taylor Giuffre-Catalano

At last weeks School Committee meeting, held on August 15th, Lauren Buck, the Director of the citys Public Health Department, outlined updates and changes to the COVID-19 policy at Revere Public Schools.

The bottom line: We want to keep kids in school as much as we can, safely, Buck stated. She explained that while there are still some CDC Guidelines baked into the [Revere Public Schools] policy, there are changes to the protocol that students, families, and staff should be aware of before the start of the new academic year.

One of the critical changes, Buck mentioned, is the updated masking policy: Masking will no longer be required in Revere Public Schools. Under the new protocol, Buck explained, students and staff are not required to wear masks on school grounds unless they are on their sixth day since their positive test.

Buck explained that Revere Public Schools will remain in compliance with updated CDC and DESE guidelines in regards to a five day isolation period following a positive test, in which students and staff will be mandated to stay at home for five day following a positive test. On the sixth day from a positive test, or the sixth day from symptom onset, Buck explained, those individuals who were isolated can return to Revere Public Schools and are required to wear a mask for the following five days. If students or staff cannot wear a mask for those five days, Buck concluded, They will be required to be isolated for ten days instead.

COVID-19 exposure policies have also been updated, Buck explained. In updated policy from DESE and the CDC, there is no required quarantine period for those who were exposed to COVID-19. Buck explained that this move would allow more kids and staff to stay in school. The caveat, Buck noted, was those who were asymptomatic. She explained that if an individual is exposed to COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status, they are able to continue in school. Those who are exposed to COVID-19 are strongly urged to continue testing. If an individual exposed to COVID-19 tests positive, or begins showing symptoms, Buck explained it was critical to follow the aforementioned protocols.

There will also be new testing initiatives implemented across the school system. Buck explained a conscious movement away from pool testing, formerly a tenet of Revere Public Schools COVID-19 policy. Instead, Buck offered a symptomatic testing policy that is headed by school nurses. The goal, Buck explained, is to make sure that symptomatic people stay home. She explained that if a student or staff member is symptomatic at school, the school nurse determines if that individual requires rapid testing on site. In essence, Bucks new policy makes the decision, if a person needs to go home or back to class, up to the nurses discretion.

Both Buck and Dr. Dianne Kelly, Superintendent of Revere Public Schools, explained that there are currently 13,000 tests available to the school system to ensure COVID-19 protocol is well-executed. Buck explained that its critical to continually reassess policy and make sure its working. While there are certainly significant policy changes being made at the start of the upcoming school year, Buck appeared confident in the new initiatives. She explained that if an individual felt symptomatic in any capacity, masking is strongly encouraged, regardless of a positive or a negative test. The goal is to keep students and staff in school, while adhering to DESE and CDC guidelines, and keeping everyone safe.

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RPS To Revise COVID-19 Policies for the 20222023 Academic Year - Revere Journal

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK| Mansfield News Journal

Ohio reported 24,067 new cases of coronavirus in the week ending Sunday, down 7.5% from the previous week. The previous week had 26,016 new cases of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Ohio ranked 14th among the states where coronavirus was spreading the fastest on a per-person basis, a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the latest week coronavirus cases in the United States decreased 11.2% from the week before, with 707,345 cases reported. With 3.51% of the country's population, Ohio had 3.4% of the country's cases in the last week. Across the country, eight states had more cases in the latest week than they did in the week before.

Richland County reported 317 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 345 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 35,237 cases and 521 deaths.

Crawford County reported 157 cases and zero deaths in the latest week. A week earlier, it had reported 151 cases and zero deaths. Throughout the pandemic it has reported 12,643 cases and 219 deaths.

Across Ohio, cases fell in 54 counties, with the best declines in Hamilton County, with 1,517 cases from 1,765 a week earlier; in Franklin County, with 2,214 cases from 2,455; and in Montgomery County, with 1,112 cases from 1,348.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Within Ohio, the worst weekly outbreaks on a per-person basis were in Pike County with 486 cases per 100,000 per week; Jackson County with 478; and Guernsey County with 473. The Centers for Disease Control says high levels of community transmission begin at 100 cases per 100,000 per week.

Adding the most new cases overall were Cuyahoga County, with 2,562 cases; Franklin County, with 2,214 cases; and Hamilton County, with 1,517. Weekly case counts rose in 33 counties from the previous week. The worst increases from the prior week's pace were in Wayne, Ashtabula and Jackson counties.

In Ohio, zero people were reported dead of COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday. In the week before that, 13 people were reported dead.

A total of 3,026,110 people in Ohio have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 39,310 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. In the United States 93,641,944 people have tested positive and 1,041,149 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday, Aug. 21. Likely COVID patients admitted in the state:

Likely COVID patients admitted in the nation:

Hospitals in 14 states reported more COVID-19 patients than a week earlier, while hospitals in 19 states had more COVID-19 patients in intensive-care beds. Hospitals in 20 states admitted more COVID-19 patients in the latest week than a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

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Richland County reported 317 additional COVID-19 cases this week - Mansfield News Journal

I am a fifth-grade teacher with 25 years of the elementary school experience. Currently, I teach at a rural school in Gila Bend, Arizona.

Theres something to be said about being part of a small community. There is heart. There is a sense of safety and caring for one another. Last year, when a devastating flood destroyed peoples homes and several students lost family members, the community came together in the blink of an eye to provide shelter, food, and other help for the affected families. This was a demonstration of the level of caring that exists within the Gila Bend community.

Our small community can also protect one another from Covid.

Working with students in close proximity every day puts me at risk of contracting Covid. Even though I encourage my students to sanitize, wipe down their desks, cover their sneezes, and wash their hands frequently while at school, I do not know if similar precautions are taken at home. I do what I can to keep this illness at bay for the sake of my students, my family, and myself.

Nevertheless, most of my students have been exposed to or have contracted Covid. Now that we are back to in-person learning, Covid has kept them out of school for days or even weeks. They are missing out on important academic instruction. It is evident through test scores that students were already falling behind because of remote learning. We need to get back on track, making sure the students and their families are staying healthy.

With Covid vaccines now available for everyone 6 months and up, it is time to take charge of this situation as best as we can, for our students and our community.

Research has shown that getting vaccinated against Covid helps to protect against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, and to slow the spread of the virus.

Naturally, people have questions about vaccinesincluding my students. As a teacher, I help them find reliable information, and I encourage them to do their own research. I also encourage them to talk to doctors about getting vaccinated. I tell them that doctors are the ones that help us stay healthy; they are the ones we trust with our lives!

We have lost too many people to Covid in our small rural community. What if we could have done something to save their lives? The answer for those who have lost a loved one is, undoubtedly, we would! It is time to get vaccinated and keep our families, communities, and schools healthy.

Find free Covid vaccines near you at vaccines.gov.

Erika Sanchez is a fifth-grade teacher with 25 years of the elementary school experience. Currently, she teaches at a rural school in Gila Bend, Arizona.

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by Erika Sanchez, The Daily Yonder August 24, 2022

This article first appeared on The Daily Yonder and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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Commentary: Protecting Our Rural Communities From Covid-19 - Daily Yonder

He battled AIDS, COVID-19, and Trump. Now, Anthony Fauci is stepping down  Science

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He battled AIDS, COVID-19, and Trump. Now, Anthony Fauci is stepping down - Science

After years of living through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it would be streamlining its COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what to do if they catch the virus.

COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, however, with so many tools available to us for reducing COVID-19 severity, there is significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death compared to earlier in the pandemic, the CDC said.

The new guidelines include:

But while the CDC may be recommending that precautions around COVID-19 start winding down, a new virus has emerged: Monkeypox.

Monkeypox is a disease that can cause flu-like symptoms and a rash. Human-to-human transmission occurs through direct contact with lesions or infected body fluids, or from exposure to respiratory secretions during prolonged face-to-face contact.

The CDC has yet to release recommended community guidelines for slowing the spread of Monkeypox, leaving retailers wondering how exactly they should handle known cases.

Recommendations for congregate settings (assisted living facilities, dorms, etc.) can, however, offer some basic guidance:

While these recommendations might be a good start, there are still considerations unique to retail that have yet to be addressed. Should employees wear gloves? Should dressing rooms be closed?

We would love to know how your organization is handling both the continuing COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of Monkeypox for further reporting on the topics. Shoot me an email at courtneyw@lpportal.com.

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So What Are the New COVID-19 Guidelines, Exactlyand What About Monkeypox? - Loss Prevention Magazine