Tag: COVID-19

Possible deer-to human COVID-19 transmission reported by Canadian researchers
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Possible deer-to human COVID-19 transmission reported by Canadian researchers

Canadian researchers have found the first case of a deer passing COVID-19 to a human. The findings identified a white-tailed deer as being responsible for this transmission. It had been previously reported that these deer were even capable of being infected by the Omicron variant. In light of these recent findings, the risk to the general public still remains low. To read more, click here.
Hong Kong reports record COVID-19 cases; movements could be restricted
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Hong Kong reports record COVID-19 cases; movements could be restricted

Hong Kong is enforcing COVID-19 testing for its more than 7 million residents. Health officials are reporting a record of 55,353 daily infections and over one hundred deaths due to the virus. Even with these high numbers, they have no plan to block entry or exit from the city. U.S. officials are warning travelers to not travel to Hong Kong after discovering the high level of threat. To read more, click here.
COVID-19 takes serious toll on heart health—a full year after recovery
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COVID-19 takes serious toll on heart health—a full year after recovery

Data from patients that recovered from COVID-19 supports the claim that SARS-CoV-2 can damage the heart and blood vessels. Cardiologists are stunned at the lasting effects of even acute cases, one year after recovery. The exact reason for the long term damage is unknow at this time, but this also goes to show that this virus is much worse than the flu. COVID-19 has lasting effects that are possibly life-threatening. To learn more, click here.
The next variant: three key questions about what’s after Omicron
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The next variant: three key questions about what’s after Omicron

Over the course of the pandemic, there have been several variants to arise. With this is mind, people are wondering when the next one will happen and how serious it will be. However, there is no way to know this information. When considering the history of past variants, it is predicted that new variants will arise every few months. Omicron caused much more mild symptoms when compared to other variants, but that doesn't mean it won't cause severe disease. It is unlikely that vaccines will completely protect from new variants. Omicron has several mutations, and the vaccine's protection is reported to be relatively high. To learn more, click here.
Babies are protected from hospitalization for Covid if their moms get vaccinated, study suggests
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Babies are protected from hospitalization for Covid if their moms get vaccinated, study suggests

After studying the effects of vaccination on unborn babies, the CDC found that infants that were younger than 6 months old were 61% less likely to be hospitalized with Covid if their mother received a vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna while pregnant. Research suggests that this is possible because antibodies from the vaccine can transfer across the placenta to the fetus. For mothers that got vaccinated later in the pregnancy, 21 weeks to 14 days before delivery, the baby had an even higher level of protection. It went from 61% to 80%. To read more, click here.
Covid will always be an epidemic virus- not an endemic one, scientist warns
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Covid will always be an epidemic virus- not an endemic one, scientist warns

Omicron is not expected to be the last Covid-19 variant. WHO warns that the next one to arise will be more contagious than Omicron. The CDC in the United States considers an epidemic occurrence to happen when the number of cases for a particular disease increases suddenly, above expectations. WHO declares a pandemic when the growth of a disease is extremely large and spreads across the globe. Despite many opinions on the topic, a biosecurity expert believes that this virus will always behave as an epidemic virus. To read more, click here.
WHO says there’s no evidence healthy children and adolescents need Covid boosters
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WHO says there’s no evidence healthy children and adolescents need Covid boosters

There has been a lot of chatter about booster shots and how effective they may actually be. The chief scientists for WHO, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, states that there is no scientific evidence that children and adolescents that are healthy need boosters to supplement their vaccinations. Along with other agency members of WHO, they will sit down and discuss how they should move forward with distributing the booster shots. To read more, click here.
Drugstores struggle to keep Covid at-home tests in stock as omicron rages across U.S.
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Drugstores struggle to keep Covid at-home tests in stock as omicron rages across U.S.

While at-home COVID tests are convenient, they have been hard to come by. This is especially true in hot-spots like New York City. Pharmacies have been overwhelmed with the orders as the kits are being sold out before they arrive in the stores. President Joe Biden is trying to remedy the situation by offering 500 million tests for free. However, the short supply has more to do with material shortages. They still continue to work around the clock and hire more employees to get the tests out as fast as possible. To read more, click here.
Omicron is fading, but nobody knows when the pandemic will finally end
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Omicron is fading, but nobody knows when the pandemic will finally end

United States health officials continue to reassure citizens that we are moving closer to a time where Covid-19 does not dominate our lives. Covid will never be eradicated, but the virus is no longer expected to keep pushing hospitals to their breaking point in the coming months. Infections have skyrocketed with the emergence of the omicron variant, however hospitalizations and deaths have not. This is a good sign. The term endemic refers to a disease that occurs at a regular and predictable level. Experts believe that this is the current stage we are in. To read more, click here.
Do you still need a mask? Here’s how the CDC determines if you should wear one
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Do you still need a mask? Here’s how the CDC determines if you should wear one

Americans continue to raise questions as to when the masks can come off as Covid related hospitalizations continue to fall. Last summer, the CDC recommended indoor masking and that guidance has not changed. Other factors are used when determining when to relax the protocols such as the overwhelming amount of people being hospitalized. The numbers are lower, it has been stated that, “Our hospitalization rates are still quite high,” and death data should be a key factor in determining when mitigation guidance should be lifted. To learn more, click here.