CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 10/10/2020

October 10, 2020

FROM THE MNM: On Friday Harrison County Judge Chad Sims announced that the county saw 11 new cases of the coronavirus that day, along with five recoveries.

This brings the counties total active cases up to 49 to end the week.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 Harrison County has seen 949 total positive cases and 865 total recoveries, with 35 fatalities from the virus.

Community members can visit the Convention Center Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free COVID-19 testing.

No appointment is necessary, and walk-ins are welcome, though a phone number is required with testing since results will only be sent out through text.

Symptoms of Covid-19 are a poor marker of infection
Symptoms of Covid-19 Are a Poor Marker of Infection (UCL) 86% of people who tested positive for Covid-19 during lockdown did not have virus symptoms (cough, and/or fever, and/or loss of taste/smell), finds a study by UCL researchers. The authors say a more widespread testing programme is needed to catch ‘silent’ transmission.

FROM JOHNS HOPKINS

1. UNITED STATESThe US CDC reported 7.53 million total cases and 211,132 deaths. The US daily COVID-19 incidence continues to climb, now up to 44,984 new cases per day, the highest since August 20. Yesterday, the CDC reported 53,051 new cases, the highest daily total since August 15. The US COVID-19 mortality continues to decline slowly, now down to 675 deaths per day, the lowest daily average since July 10. We have observed previously, however, that mortality trends tend to lag 2-3 weeks behind incidence, so it will be important to monitor mortality over the coming weeks.

Half of all US states are reporting more than 100,000 cases, including California with more than 800,000 cases; Texas and Florida with more than 700,000; New York with more than 400,000; Georgia and Illinois with more than 300,000; and Arizona, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Tennessee with more than 200,000.

The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center reported 7.62 million US cases and 213,016 deaths as of 12:30pm EDT on October 9.

UNITED STATES

The US CDC reported 7.45 million total cases and 209,560 deaths. The US is averaging 43,852 new cases and 708 deaths per day. The daily mortality increased for the second consecutive day, after falling below 700 for the first time since mid-July.

2. Remdesivir for the Treatment of Covid-19 — Final Report (NEJM) We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of intravenous remdesivir in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection. Our data show that remdesivir was superior to placebo in shortening the time to recovery in adults who were hospitalized with Covid-19 and had evidence of lower respiratory tract infection.

3. ‘Rural Surge’ Propels India Toward More Covid-19 Infections Than U.S. (NYT) The defiance of the coronavirus rules is being reflected across rural India, and it is propelling this nation’s virus caseload toward the No. 1 spot globally. Infections are rippling into every corner of this country of 1.3 billion people. In the Indian megacities where the pandemic first hit, vigorous public awareness campaigns have left the populace mostly on guard. But when it comes to government efforts to contain the virus, rural India is resisting.

4.”….A single test intended to detect COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will receive advanced development support …. test is being designed to provide rapid, qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A, Influenza B, and RSV; as well as distinguish between these diseases in a single-patient sample. The test will operate on Cepheid’s GeneXpert systems, in both laboratory and point-of-care settings.(J. Harris: Having one test to diagnose and differentiate the common causes of viral respiratory infections available at the point of care and immediately would be great. Multiple agencies are working on it.)

Have a Nice Weekend!