Editor's Note This study by researchers from VA Boston and VA Bedford, Massachusetts, Healthcare Systems, found that frequent, mandatory surveillance of vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) was effective in detecting COVID-19 infections. The analysis included all 431 HCWs at VA Boston and 1,542 HCWs at VA Bedford facilities. Mandatory surveillance testing…

Read More

Editor's Note This study by researchers at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, reveals the cellular mechanism behind why the elderly and patients with preexisting conditions are at higher risk of infection, severe side effects, and death from COVID-19. The researchers detail their discovery that circulating levels of a protein called…

Read More

Editor's Note In this study, researchers at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, find that overweight and obese adolescents and adults experienced more respiratory symptoms from COVID-19. Of 552 individuals enrolled in the study, 470 tested positive for COVID-19, including 261 adults (18 years or more old), 61 adolescents…

Read More

Editor's Note This international multicenter study led by UK researchers finds that the first wave of COVID-19 significantly impacted surgical patients in peak months—directly by comorbid infections and indirectly by increasing mortality, irrespective of COVID-19 status. In this analysis of 3,176 emergency adult surgical patients from 18 countries (between March…

Read More

Editor's Note In this study from the Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, age was significantly, negatively correlated with the neutralizing antibody response to COVID-19 and the P.1 (Gamma-Brazil) variant. Of 50 individuals enrolled in the study, robust neutralizing responses were observed after 2 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in…

Read More

Editor's Note Of 101 million Americans vaccinated against COVID-19 as of April 30, 2021, more than 10,200 had breakthrough infections 14 days or more after receipt of all vaccine doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among these cases: 63% occurred in women 27% were asymptomatic…

Read More

Editor's Note The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), issued updated guidance on March 10 to help nursing homes safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated guidance says nursing homes “should allow responsible indoor visitation…

Read More

Editor's Note This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study finds a huge drop in routine vaccinations in Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing data from January to July 2019 and January to July 2020, declines of 70% to 89% in routine vaccinations were seen in mid-April 2020.…

Read More

Editor's Note This study led by researchers from Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, finds that patients with dementia are at a significantly higher increased risk for COVID-19, and the risk is higher still for Blacks with dementia. Analyzing electronic health records of 61.9 million adults in the US, the…

Read More

Editor’s Note In this study of nursing home residents with COVID-19, increased age, male gender, and impaired cognitive and physical function were independent risk factors for all-cause 30-day mortality. Of 5,256 nursing home residents with COVID-19 in 351 US nursing homes: Odds of death were 1.46 times higher for residents…

Read More