CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS – 03/04/2021

HOPKINS CITED:

1. Genomic Evidence of In-Flight Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Despite Predeparture Testing Since the first wave of coronavirus disease in March 2020, citizens and permanent residents returning to New Zealand have been required to undergo managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) for 14 days and mandatory testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As of October 20, 2020, of 62,698 arrivals, testing of persons in MIQ had identified 215 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 86 passengers on a flight from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, that arrived in New Zealand on September 29, test results were positive for 7 persons in MIQ. These passengers originated from 5 different countries before a layover in Dubai; 5 had negative predeparture SARS-CoV-2 test results. To assess possible points of infection, we analyzed information about their journeys, disease progression, and virus genomic data. All 7 SARS-CoV-2 genomes were genetically identical, except for a single mutation in 1 sample. Despite predeparture testing, multiple instances of in-flight SARS-CoV-2 transmission are likely. (CDC EID, March 2021)

2. Antibody Responses 8 Months after Asymptomatic or Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection Waning humoral immunity in coronavirus disease patients has raised concern over usefulness of serologic testing. Researchers investigated antibody responses of 58 persons 8 months after asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. For 3 of 4 immunoassays used, seropositivity rates were high (69.0%–91.4%). (CDC EID, March 2021)

(J. Harris: This likely means that the antibody tests that were positive 8 months later, likely correlates with at least some retained immunity).

3.Suspected Recurrent SARS-CoV-2 Infections Among Residents of a Skilled Nursing Facility During a Second COVID-19 Outbreak — Kentucky, July–November 2020 Five residents of a skilled nursing facility received positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test results in two separate COVID-19 outbreaks separated by 3 months. Residents received at least four negative test results between the two outbreaks, s. Severity of disease in the five residents during the second outbreak was worse than that during the first outbreak and included one death. (CDC MMWR, 2/26/2021)

(J. Harris: So were these repeated infections due to relapse or to a new virus, perhaps with mutations? Time will tell. You know it is being evaluated. Keep wearing your masks)._

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(J. Harris: Were I to read only one publication for local and Texas Covid information, I would read The Texas Tribune. It is generally corrected from a medical standpoint and has the best basic charts and stats for us non-mathematicians who don’t understand stats very well and can’t even spell ‘statistics’. The ‘New York Times” would be my second choice for the high spot type of world-wide Covid reading.)

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