Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Monday 10-August-2020
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
August 10, 2020
Today’s topics: When is wearing a face covering worse than wearing nothing? Reader question about breathalyzer test.
| When is wearing a face covering worse than nothing? An interesting study came out on Friday in the Journal Science Advances, They took a look at face covering efficiency at filtering expelled droplets during speech. Using a laser and cell phone camera, researchers at Duke School of Medicine tracked the number of droplets expelled by people as they spoke. Some interesting results were found. They found that the N-95 masks was the most effective and led to less than 0.1% droplet spread. Some cotton and polypropylene materials also did very well. Then came the valved N095 which was worse than the regular N-95 but still much better than not wearing anything. The worst of the helpful items was the bandana which had a range of results, most being slightly better than nothing. The most interesting was the neck fleece. The number of small droplets for speakers wearing a neck fleece was 110% above not wearing anything. ` You may be asking, how is that possible. How is wearing a neck fleece 10% worse than wearing nothing at all. The authors state that it appeared that the fleece broke larger droplets which normally settle to the ground quickly into many more smaller droplet which floated around longer. The apparent result was a net increase in the number of small floating particles in the measurement chamber. So as the weather gets colder, please resist the temptation of getting out the neck fleece you use for skiing and using it as a face covering. You should probably also avoid using a bandana because although it was better than nothing, it was much worse than other type of face coverings. The authors point out that there were many deficiencies in their study and therefore the results should only be a guide for more research but its an interesting finding none-the-less. Reader Question about CoViD Breathalyser I had a reader question and a question on a video call today about the breathalyser test for CoViD-19. Then this evening, I read an article about a new version of this type of measurement device being developed by another biotech company. A number of months ago, some excitement was generated by a breathalyser test that was being developed by an Israeli company. I was very interested in this technology and took a close look. Unfortunately, the sensitivity of this test was not accurate enough to make it useful. This was disappointing. Just today, there was a report that a new technology was being developed at George Washington University using micro-electronic mechanical system (MEMS) and very large scale integration (VSLI) circuitry to try the breathalyser concept again. Some breakthroughs in nanoscale gas sensors and colorimetric sensors has renewed this idea. The rights to this has been bought by a Biotech company so perhaps we will see some new CoViD-19 sensor technology emerge in the future. Be well and take care of yourself. There are storm clouds on the horizon. –Dr. Stu |
COVID-19 HEADLINES FOR TODAY
| Coronavirus update for August 10, 2020 World Wide Updates Lebanon records nearly 300 new coronavirus cases as hospitals near capacity from dual crisis Syria reports record number of new Covid-19 cases Mexico City’s mayor self-isolates after colleague tests positive for Covid-19 Hong Kong extends strict social distancing measures despite declining cases Cuba reports 93 new Covid-19 cases, a record increase since the pandemic started Covid-19 is “proving exceptionally difficult to stop,” WHO says Iraq records more than 3,400 new Covid-19 cases Bolivia nears 90,000 Covid-19 cases after days of protests following postponement of elections UK Prime Minister says schools must reopen in September Australia’s oldest micronation, Hutt River, is no more — thanks to Covid-19 Former Indian president tests positive for Covid-19 Greece sees highest daily case count since the start of the pandemic US and Taiwan sign memorandum of understanding on health cooperation New Zealand went 100 days with no community coronavirus transmission Indian regional health minister tests positive for Covid-19 Japan reports nearly 1,500 new Covid-19 cases Australian state of Victoria reports highest daily total of coronavirus deaths Mexico surpasses 480,000 total coronavirus cases Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacks lockdowns and the media India faces lost generation as virus pushes children to work $1.5 million face mask being made in Israel amid coronavirus pandemic EU health agency calls for new lockdowns Rate of new infections in Ireland overtakes UK Tourists from certain countries will need proof of negative coronavirus test before entering Greece EU warns over uncoordinated border controls in Europe WHO has received just 10% of funds needed for Covid fight Total Cases Worldwide: 20,174,663 Total Deaths Worldwide: 736,310 Total Recovered: 12,998,320 US Updates US stocks open slightly higher 22 schools in Mississippi are reporting Covid-19 cases 9 of the 12 Florida counties starting in-person schooling this week had a positivity rate above 5% California governor on Trump’s unemployment proposal: “The money simply does not exist” The FDA will “not cut corners” to approve a Covid-19 vaccine, official says Georgia election board passes emergency rule to extend time it can scan ballots $96 million will be awarded to small businesses impacted by coronavirus in Pennsylvania Long Beach mayor’s stepdad dies from complications of Covid-19 More than 97,000 children tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks of July, report says NHL announces no new Covid-19 cases during past week Trump calls on college sports seasons to move forward despite pandemic Florida reports 4,155 new Covid-19 cases — its lowest daily increase since June New York reaching “new low” number of Covid-19 hospitalizations since pandemic began, governor says More than 500 people from a Georgia school district are in quarantine due to Covid-19 California’s health director steps down Actor Antonio Banderas tests positive for coronavirus More than a dozen students in one Georgia school district test positive for Covid-19 Moderna’s clinical trial numbers show there’s “no way” Trump can have a vaccine by Election Day MLB postpones Cardinals’ series against Pirates after more test positive for Covid-19 Student in Georgia tests positive for coronavirus after 9 cases reported at high school Illinois reports more than 1,300 new Covid-19 cases California church defies restraining order, holds indoor services MTA blasts Apple as NYC subway riders take off masks to unlock iPhones Trump holds fundraiser at home of pal who died of coronavirus — without masks or social distancing Total US cases: 5,232,139 Total US deaths: 165,956 Total Recovered: 2,679,460 Total Tested in US: 61,792,571 Total cases in CA: 567,118 Total deaths in CA: 10,393 Total cases in FL: 536,961 Total deaths in FL: 8,277 Total cases in TX: 510,101 Total deaths in TX: 8,613 Total cases in NY: 450,830 Total deaths in NY: 32,847 Contact us |
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