Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Feb. 8 to 12, 2021. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
Airport COVID-19 Safety Measures Still Need Work
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Safety measures taken by U.S. airports have lowered travelers’ risks of getting the new coronavirus, but more needs to be done, a new report claims.
COVID-19 Vaccines for U.S. Children Still Months Away
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Late summer will be the earliest that children in the United States could receive COVID-19 vaccines, experts say.
Most Adults Will Continue Public Health Safety Measures After Pandemic
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Most Americans plan to continue many of the pandemic precautions in the name of public health, even when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, according to the results of a survey released by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
COVID-19 Vaccines Likely Available to All Americans by April: Fauci
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Any American will be able to start getting vaccinated by April, the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert predicted Thursday.
Prophylactic Anticoagulation May Cut COVID-19 Mortality
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Prophylactic anticoagulation is associated with reduced risk of 30-day mortality among patients admitted to hospital with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection, according to a study published online Feb. 11 in The BMJ.
Many Health Care Workers Report Vaccine Hesitancy
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Many health care workers report they may delay getting the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a research letter published online Feb. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
COVID-19 Transmission Low in Day Camps With Safety Measures
FRIDAY, Feb. 12, 2021 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 transmission can be mitigated in child care settings even during times of high community incidence, according to a study published Feb. 3 in Pediatrics.
Modifications Can Improve Mask Efficacy for Reducing Exposure
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Good fit is important for maximizing mask performance to reduce exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 respiratory droplet particles, according to research published in the Feb. 10 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Millions of Counterfeit N95 Face Masks Sold to Americans
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Sales of foreign-made counterfeit N95 face masks in at least five states are being investigated by U.S. officials.
Shortage Forces Temporary Closure of Five LA COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Five COVID-19 vaccination sites in Los Angeles will temporarily close due to a shortage of doses, Mayor Eric Garcetti said Wednesday.
COVID-19 Vaccination Intent Increased From Sept. to Dec. 2020
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — From September to December 2020, there was an increase in COVID-19 vaccination intent, according to research published in the Feb. 9 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC: COVID-19 Quarantines Not Necessary for Vaccinated People
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Fully vaccinated Americans can now skip quarantines if they are exposed to someone infected with COVID-19, new federal guidelines say.
Caregivers Hesitant to Take Children to ED During COVID-19
THURSDAY, Feb. 11, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one in four caregivers reported being hesitant to seek emergency department care for their child, according to a research letter published online Jan. 21 in Academic Emergency Medicine.
WHO: Global Tally of New COVID-19 Cases Declines for Fourth Straight Week
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — New COVID-19 cases worldwide fell for the fourth week in a row, and the number of deaths from the disease decreased for the second straight week, the World Health Organization said in its weekly epidemiological update.
Most Americans Unhappy With U.S. Vaccine Rollout: Poll
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — As the United States enters a critical phase of its national coronavirus vaccination campaign, a new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans are frustrated with how hard it is to get immunized against COVID-19.
State Mask Mandates Tied to Drop in COVID-19 Hospitalization Growth Rate
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of statewide mask mandates is associated with a reduction in COVID-19-associated hospitalization growth rates, and mask use has been found to be high at universities, according to two studies published in the Feb. 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Combination Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Authorized for COVID-19
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The combination treatment of bamlanivimab and etesevimab received emergency use authorization for mild-to-moderate COVID-19, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday.
Adult Cardiac Surgery Down, Outcomes Worse During Pandemic
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sharp drops in adult cardiac surgery volume and worse patient outcomes, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, held virtually from Jan. 29 to 31.
Unlikely That Coronavirus Leaked From Chinese Lab: WHO Expert
TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — It is unlikely that the new coronavirus leaked from a Chinese lab, a World Health Organization expert said Tuesday.
South Africa Considering J&J Vaccine as Next Step
TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Giving a COVID-19 vaccine that is still being tested to health care workers is one option being considered by South Africa after it delayed the introduction of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Peginterferon Lambda Accelerates SARS-CoV-2 Decline in Outpatients
TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For outpatients with COVID-19, peginterferon lambda accelerates viral decline, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Detected Six Months After Infection
TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — For many individuals, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antispike antibodies remain for at least six months after infection, according to a report published by the U.K. Biobank.
Risk for COVID-19 Increased for Patients With Dementia
TUESDAY, Feb. 9, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Patients with dementia have an increased risk for COVID-19, with the strongest effect seen for vascular dementia, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Alzheimer’s & Dementia.
South Africa Delays AstraZeneca Vaccine Rollout
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Plans to vaccinate frontline health care workers with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been delayed in South Africa because there are questions about its effectiveness.
COVID-19 Vaccine Scammers Proliferating on the ‘Dark Web’
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Online COVID-19 vaccine scams are becoming more widespread, security experts warn.
COVID-19 Tied to Higher Mortality After Cardiac Arrest
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Among patients who suffer a cardiac arrest either in or out of hospital, those who are infected with COVID-19 are more likely to die than those who are not infected with COVID-19, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in the European Heart Journal.
Canadian Primary Care Shifted to Virtual Early in Pandemic
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Primary care saw large shifts from office to virtual care during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
COVID-19 Mortality Tied to Social Determinants of Health
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Racial differences in COVID-19 death rates are explained by adverse social determinants of health, including education and poverty, according to a study published Jan. 5 in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.
Hospitalized Health Care Workers Do Not Have Worse COVID-19 Outcomes
MONDAY, Feb. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Health care worker status is not associated with poorer outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online Jan. 28 in JAMA Network Open.
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