Dr. Stuart Weiss: COVID-19 Update Thursday 20-August-2020
Dr. Stuart Weiss, FACEP, FAAP, CBCP
August 20, 2020
Today’s topics: Here we go again with CoViD-19 testing, kids have more virus in their throats, Flu vaccine
| Lab test craziness again Remember a few months ago when we had a bunch of unproven CoViD-19 tests flood the US market because the government wasn’t reviewing applications properly? Well, I guess we didn’t learn our lesson. Yesterday, under an executive order from President Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services rescinded its guidance that mandated that the Food and Drug Administration approve CoViD-19 tests before they are used. This order actually says: “as part of HHS’s ongoing department-wide review of regulatory flexibilities enacted since the start of COVID-19, the department has determined that the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) will not require premarket review of laboratory developed tests (“LDT”).” So that means that a lab can develop a test for CoViD-19 and start using it without any government oversight. We have to just hope that commercial labs will produce good tests. Trusting all labs to do the right thing has not worked out so well for us in the past. Perhaps there is some reason that HHS took this unusual action but its beyond me to understand. Kids have high amounts of virus in their throats In a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics yesterday, they looked at 192 kids at Massachusetts General Hospital. 49 kids were diagnosed with CoViD-19 and 18 had multisystem inflammatory syndrome, the still unexplained illness seen late in children. Only half (51%) of the kids with CoViD-19 had a fever. They found that the viral load in the airways of kids were significantly higher than the sickest adult patients in ICU. Some kids had significant viral loads in their airways before symptoms appeared. Last month, a research letter in JAMA Pediatrics showed that kids less than 5 years old had even more virus in their throats and noses than older kids. This all points to the conclusion that kids can be important sources of infection and may be particularly good spreaders since they tend to not have many symptoms. This is important when we realize that many symptoms of CoViD-19 overlap with usual fall and winter pediatric illnesses. It makes reopening of schools much more difficult. Flu vaccine – should you take it I was asked a good question about flu vaccine the other day. The person asked me how important it is to get a flu vaccine this year and will flu vaccine make their immune system stronger against SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is crucial to get a flu vaccine this year. Here’s why. You want to prevent yourself from getting the flu and ending up in the hospital. Remember that seasonal flu kills many people each year. You don’t want to end up in the hospital and take up a bed that might be needed for a CoViD-19 patient. Plus no one knows what would happen if you get flu and CoViD-19 at the same time. The flu vaccine is a safe vaccine. It might make you a little achy for a day or give you a sore arm but that is a minor inconvenience. Catching the real flu is much worse and will knock you on your arse for 4-5 days. To the second part, getting a flu vaccine will not increase your protection for SARS-CoV-2. They are different viruses in different viral families and require a completely different set of antibodies. 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 20, 2020 World Wide Updates People traveling from Portugal to the UK no longer have to quarantine South Korea reports triple-digit virus cases for seventh consecutive day Brazilian Congress makes masks mandatory, despite president’s veto Scotland’s R-number “could be above one,” official says Europe recording 26,000 daily new virus cases since restrictions eased, says WHO Costa Rica to allow US residents from 6 northeastern states (New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut) entry next month EU concludes talks to buy 225 million vaccine doses Sweden records highest death tally in 150 years in first half of 2020 The odds of catching Covid-19 on an airplane are slimmer than you think, scientists say Germany records its highest daily number of Covid-19 cases since April Mental and physical health issues dismissed at Australian hotel quarantine, inquiry hears Mystery surrounding source of New Zealand community cluster remains unsolved Controversy over Australian PM’s vaccine comments points to the next coronavirus nightmare Brazil’s President may extend emergency unemployment payments amid pandemic China says no hospitalized coronavirus patients have died in “almost four months” South Korea’s latest church-linked coronavirus outbreak is turning into a battle over religious freedom More than a third of Japan’s total virus cases were reported in August Mexico reports more than 5,700 new Covid-19 cases France reports new post-lockdown record daily cases Northern Ireland reduces number of people allowed to meet in new Covid-19 restrictions Italy hits new daily record in Covid-19 infections since May 16 Russia to begin Covid-19 vaccine trials on 40,000 people next week Belgian schools to reopen in September with masks mandatory for older children Africa sees daily drop in coronavirus cases as a “hopeful sign” Total Cases Worldwide: 22,750,745 Total Deaths Worldwide: 794,269 Total Recovered: 15,424,654 US Updates California reports 5th straight day of new Covid-19 cases below 14-day average Mississippi governor issues limits on college football stadiums and game day events US FDA authorizes third antigen test to diagnose coronavirus quickly North Carolina State University moves all undergrad classes online due to Covid-19 clusters Philadelphia will allow indoor dining to resume next month At least 15 states reporting Covid cases at colleges and universities American initial jobless claims above 1 million again American Airlines plans to suspend service to 15 cities because of “low demand” Kentucky Attorney General says state can’t close religious schools complying with Covid-19 rules FDA warns about UV lights to disinfect coronavirus and other germs 2 passengers get into vicious fight over face mask on American Airlines flight Cuomo sign election reform bills to make absentee voting easier for New Yorkers TikTok start Bryce Hall has power shut off at L.A. party house over coronavirus protocols Airbnb bans parties at sites listed on its platform in Covid-19 fight Total US cases: 5,734,650Total US deaths: 177,098Total Recovered: 3,077,721Total Tested in US: 69,370,708 Total cases in CA: 650,086 Total deaths in CA: 11,701 Total cases in FL: 588,602 Total deaths in FL: 10,052 Total cases in TX: 586,641 Total deaths in TX: 10,595 Total cases in NY: 457,930 Total deaths in NY: 32,935 Contact us |
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