Editor's Note This study led by researchers at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research and the Brooke Army Medical Center JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas, finds that a Texas state-level mask mandate issued July 3, 2020, followed by a Bexar County-level mandate issued July 15, 2020, did not reduce…
Editor's Note Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare is postponing all nonemergency surgical procedures in its 13 hospitals, effective September 15, the September 10 Becker’s Hospital Review reports. The action is being taken because of a COVID-19 surge fueled by the Delta variant. In a news release, the health system said…
Editor's Note The American College of Surgeons (ACS) on September 10 announced that through its Surgeon Well-Being program, it is striving to build awareness about surgeon suicide during September, which is National Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. ACS is emphasizing Physician Suicide Awareness Day, September 17, in order to destigmatize…
Editor's Note In this study by researchers at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, surgical patients find virtual follow-up care more convenient than traditional in-person appointments without loss of quality or efficiency, which are important components of patient satisfaction. The analysis included 289 patients having laparoscopic appendectomy or…
Editor's Note A total of 95.19% of US counties are reporting high COVID-19 transmission rates, with at least 100 new cases per 100,000 people in the past 7 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The surge in COVID-19 cases is being driven largely by the Delta…
Editor's Note This study led by researchers at State University of New York, Binghamton, finds that social-distancing measures implemented by states in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in smaller death rates, but led to larger second waves. Conversely, social-distancing measures implemented by states later in the pandemic…
Editor's Note The American Nurses Association (ANA) on September 1 wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging the agency to declare the ongoing shortage of nurses in the US a national crisis, citing the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant as a factor. In…
Editor's Note A survey at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center (UCMC) finds that 30% of nurses would quit their jobs if the hospital mandates COVID-19 vaccines, the September 1 Dayton Daily News reports. Of 456 nurses surveyed, 136 said they would leave over a vaccine mandate. UCMC agreed to…
Editor's Note A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that more than 83% of Americans had COVID-19 antibodies before the surge of the Delta variant began. Researchers examined data from 1,443,519 blood donation specimens obtained before the Delta variant. Overall infection-induced COVID-19 antibodies increased…
Editor's Note This study by researchers at the University of Chicago finds that the rate of domestic violence reporting in Chicago decreased after the March 2020 COVID-19 stay-at-home order was issued, and the decreased rate of reporting was substantially greater in majority Black vs majority White communities. Of 77 communities…