Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

COVID-19 can serve as catalyst for digital innovation in healthcare

COVID-19 has upended essentially every sector of the economy, and none more so than healthcare. Healthcare leaders from across the United States share their experiences with disruption and innovation in responding to the COVID-19 crisis in the Fall 2020 issue of Frontiers of Health Services Management, a publication of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

28 Aug 2020

FDA grants Abbott's COVID-19 rapid antigen test emergency-use authorization

Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency-use authorization to Abbott Laboratories for a $5 rapid-response COVID-19 antigen test, called BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card, which is roughly the size of a credit card.

27 Aug 2020

Blood thinners help reduce the risk of COVID-19 deaths, study finds

Now, a new study by a team of researchers at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York has shown that blood thinners may reduce the risk of death by up to 50 percent among severely ill hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

27 Aug 2020

Older adults experienced mental health problems during COVID-19 pandemic

Older adults experienced greater depression and loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by Indiana University researchers, and relationship strength (perceived closeness to network members) moderated the relationship between loneliness and depression.

27 Aug 2020

Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus particles in heart tissue

Researchers in Milan, Italy, have identified the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the heart tissue of deceased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients who had died from respiratory failure, without showing any signs of cardiac involvement.

27 Aug 2020

ACR Convergence pivots to all-virtual, interactive format

In keeping with global efforts to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) will take its annual, face-to-face meeting virtual. ACR Convergence will take place online Nov. 5 - 9.

27 Aug 2020

NIAID awards $17 million to establish the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health, today announced that it has awarded 11 grants with a total first-year value of approximately $17 million to establish the Centers for Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

27 Aug 2020

Pence praises Trump’s ‘seamless’ COVID response, leaves out his state feuds

Vice President Mike Pence portrayed his boss, President Donald Trump, as a leader who has reached out across the aisle to help during the coronavirus pandemic.

27 Aug 2020

WHO announces new approach to improve access to life-saving data

Today, as part of its commitment to strengthening health information systems and improving health, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO announced a new approach to improving access to life-saving data: the SCORE for Health Data Technical Package.

27 Aug 2020

Australian Museum citizen science projects break new records during COVID-19

Australian Museum citizen science projects FrogID and DigiVol’s Wildlife Spotter have broken new records during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people become involved from their homes and backyards.

27 Aug 2020

AstraZeneca partners with World Heart Federation to reduce the global burden of heart failure

AstraZeneca today announced a new partnership with the leading voice in cardiovascular (CV) health, the World Heart Federation, to drive global action to prevent, control and reduce the burden of CV disease and its associated risks and complications.

From AstraZeneca 27 Aug 2020

Scientists say insect repellent kills the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus on surfaces

Now, a team of scientists at Britain's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) has shared preliminary findings of their research, showing that a product in insect repellent can kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

27 Aug 2020

Voters' education accounts for largest divide among respondents, show poll results

Incumbent Edward Markey has opened up a double-digit lead over challenger U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III one week before the Democratic primary in the race for U.S. Senate, according to a new poll of Massachusetts voters released today.

27 Aug 2020

Anticoagulation therapy associated with improved survival among COVID-19 patients

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Mount Sinai researchers were among the first to show that anticoagulation therapy was associated with improved survival among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

27 Aug 2020

Interventions can successfully reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions

Two different interventions both worked to significantly reduce the rate of inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions made by physicians in a telemedicine practice, a new study led by Children's National Hospital researchers shows.

27 Aug 2020

Coronavirus can spread through drain pipes in bathrooms, study suggests

Now, a new study reveals that the virus may spread via aerosols through drain pipes in bathrooms, after scientists examined an abandoned apartment in Guangzhou, China. The findings add to the body of evidence suggesting the virus is transmissible via aerosols.

27 Aug 2020

New COVID-19 antigen test can be directly read from the testing card

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the first antigen test where results can be read directly from the testing card, a similar design to some pregnancy tests.

27 Aug 2020

COVID-19 model reduces up to 70% of infection rate in Italy

Infection has been reduced up to 70% as of May 1st. Thanks to the developed model, scenarios can be drawn regarding future containment measures.

27 Aug 2020

UKRI funding could initiate clinical trial for Cambridge-developed DNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

A Cambridge-developed DNA vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 could begin clinical trials in the UK in late autumn or early next year, thanks to a £1.9 million award from the UK government.

27 Aug 2020

Obesity ups COVID-19 death risk by 48 percent

Now, a new study by researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC), the World Bank, and Saudi Health Council, shows that obesity increases the risk of dying from COVID-19 by as much as 48 percent, hinting that a vaccine against the virus could be less effective in obese people.

26 Aug 2020