COVID-19 committee stresses need for equitable vaccine access, more data sharing
As COVID-19 cases spike in parts of Europe, Africa and the Americas, and new variants of the virus emerge in some countries, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday called for greater global collaboration in ending the pandemic. ...
EARLY RELEASE: Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 Lineage – United States, December 29, 2020-January 12, 2021
This report describes SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, including the B.1.1.7 variant, and modeling data indicating that B.1.1.7 has the potential to increase the U.S. pandemic trajectory in the coming months. ...
As COVID deaths pass two million worldwide, Guterres warns against self-defeating ‘vaccinationalism’
With more than two million lives now lost worldwide to COVID-19, the UN Secretary-General appealed on Friday for countries to work together and help each other to end the pandemic and save lives. In a video statement, Secretary-General António Guterres noted that the absence of a global coordinated effort has worsened...
Health experts arrive in Wuhan to investigate COVID-19 origins
Members of an international team studying the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19 arrived in Wuhan, China, on Thursday, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced during an expert meeting on the disease. ...
Business Not as Usual — Covid-19 Vaccination in Persons with Substance Use Disorders
Persons with substance use disorders (SUD) in the United States have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic — not only are they, like patients with other chronic diseases such as diabetes, at increased risk for severe disease and death due to Covid, but data show that overdose… ...
Vaccinating Detained Migrants against SARS-CoV-2 — Preventing Another Tragedy
Covid-19 has devastated refugees and asylum seekers in U.S. federal detention centers, but there has been recent cause for optimism. The Pfizer and Moderna SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have greater than 90% efficacy in preventing illness, and a federal task force has recommended prioritizing detainees for… ...
Case 1-2021: A 76-Year-Old Woman with Lethargy and Altered Mental Status
Presentation of Case. Dr. Natasha Merali (Medicine): A 76-year-old woman was transferred to this hospital because of lethargy and altered mental status. The patient had been well until 2 months before this evaluation, when she was admitted to another hospital for community-acquired pneumonia.… ...
Audio Interview: Covid-19 in South Africa and a New SARS-CoV-2 Variant
The continuing spread of SARS-CoV-2 remains a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. What physicians need to know about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment of Covid-19 is the subject of ongoing updates from infectious disease experts at the Journal. In this audio interview conducted… ...
Israel: Ensure equal COVID-19 vaccine access to Palestinians – UN Independent experts
Israel’s “impressive” vaccination programme against the COVID-19 pandemic must include Palestinians under occupation, UN independent human rights experts stressed on Wednesday. ...
Allergic Reactions Including Anaphylaxis After Receipt of the First Dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine – United States, December 14-23, 2020
This report describes cases of anaphylaxis after administration of first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine during December 14-23, 2020. ...
Rates of COVID-19 Among Residents and Staff Members in Nursing Homes – United States, May 25-November 22, 2020
This report describes the increase in rates of COVID-19 among nursing home residents and staff members during June and July 2020, and again in November. ...
Candida auris Outbreak in a COVID-19 Specialty Care Unit – Florida, July-August 2020
This report describes a Candida auris outbreak in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who received care in the same dedicated COVID-19 unit of an acute care hospital. ...