The phenomenon of facilitating viral infections by antibodies exists for many viruses including coronaviruses. Instead of behaving as described by classical immunology (protective effect), antibodies allow the virus to penetrate target cells more easily. This mechanism could make a future vaccine against Covid-19 dangerous: this effect was demonstrated in animal tests with SARS1 vaccine candidates…
Category: Epidemiology
Forbes reports “CDC: ‘No Evidence-Based Data’ That State-Level Quarantines Prevent Coronavirus”
U.S. Centers for Disease Control Director Robert Redfield said Thursday that the agency doesn’t have “evidence-based data” of the effectiveness of the quarantine measures announced Wednesday by New York, Connecticut and New Jersey on travelers from states with high coronavirus infection rates. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/06/25/cdc-no-evidence-based-data-that-state-level-quarantines-prevent-coronavirus/#7138f48e5e1c
MSN reports “CDC: 94% of Covid-19 deaths had underlying medical conditions”
ATLANTA, Ga. (WEYI) – The Centers for Disease Control released information showing how many people who died from COVID-19 had comorbidities or underlying conditions as they are sometimes referred to by doctors. According to the CDC, comorbidity is defined as: ” more than one disease or condition is present in the same person at the same…
Market Watch reports “Sweden has developed herd immunity after refusing to lock down, experts claim. Its coronavirus infection rate is falling”
Leading Swedish health experts claim the country has a falling coronavirus infection rate because it was one of the few that didn’t go into lockdown and has rejected the use of masks. Arne Elofsson, a professor in biometrics at Stockholm University, thinks the population has developed a form of immunity: “Strict rules do not work…
The Hill reports “Positive COVID-19 tests hit record low in New York City”
The percentage of COVID-19 tests coming back positive has reached a record low in New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) said Wednesday, a sign that enough people are being tested and that the city has control of the virus. “This is extraordinary,” de Blasio said during a press conference. “Now we all know every day…
CEBM reports “The Declining Case Fatality Ratio in England”
The CFR has fallen substantially from its peak in April. We now present data suggesting that the CFR as of the 4th of August stood at around 1.5%, having fallen from over 6% six weeks earlier. The recent publication of statistics based on deaths following a COVID-19 positive test in the last 28 days allows the calculation…
Birmingham Live reports “Good Hope Hospital’s Dr Ron Daniels says: ‘Don’t fear second wave – coronavirus is getting less angry'”
The intensive care consultant, who works at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust hospitals, says poorly patients are not increasing despite rise in infections Reflecting that range of views, Dr Ron Daniels – an intensive care consultant at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, who has also been based at Heartlands, said he believed the virus was “getting…
Business Insider reports “We now have the best evidence yet that everyone develops long-term coronavirus immunity after infection — and it’s not just about antibodies”
Some early studies have suggested that coronavirus antibodies fade relatively quickly, but that doesn’t mean immunity vanishes. A new study found that all participants infected with COVID-19 — even those with asymptomatic or mild cases and patients who didn’t have detectable antibodies — developed virus-specific T cells. T cells identify and kill infected cells, and B cells create new antibodies. Those…
Everist Health reports “COVIDAge Risk Calculator”
The COVIDAge Risk Calculator™ estimates risk for complications of COVID-19, including risk for hospitalization, ICU admission, and risk of mortality. It is a key tool in providing awareness around COVID-19 and knowledge of an individual’s risk that could lead them to making more informed decisions about their health and lifestyle routines. https://calculator.covid-age.com/
Independent reports “Coronavirus: Some scientists believe herd immunity is closer than originally thought”
In New York, London and Mumbai, there might already be substantial immunity to coronavirus To achieve so-called herd immunity – the point at which the virus can no longer spread because there are not enough vulnerable humans – scientists have suggested that perhaps 70 per cent of a given population must be immune, through vaccination or because they survived…