- The state of emergency is over, but how well do you know what is true or false about COVID?: California’s state of emergency due to COVID-19 has come to an end, and it is important to reflect on what we have learned from the pandemic. We must examine what was right, what was true, and what we knew and thought we knew. This is a refresher course to help us understand the lessons of the pandemic and how to apply them going forward.
- VDH: COVID cases, hospitalizations fall | Vermont Business Magazine: The Vermont Department of Health reported that COVID-19 case counts and hospitalizations were both down over the last week. Hospitalizations decreased by 5 cases to 37, and total cases fell to 350. There were 8 COVID-related deaths in the last week for a pandemic total of 925 as of February 25, with 732 of those deaths being of Vermonters 70 or older.
- Audits of Covid-19 Aid for Schools Find Millions of Dollars Misspent – WSJ: Federal and state auditors have found that since 2020, millions of dollars in Covid-relief funds sent to school districts, colleges and state governments for education have been spent on questionable or potentially fraudulent expenses. The U.S. Education Department’s Office of Inspector General has identified faulty awards, double payments and improper contracts.
- People with Long COVID Have Higher Risk of Early Death – Time: A new study published in JAMA Health Forum has found that people with Long COVID have an increased risk of death and developing serious health problems compared to those who never had COVID-19. The study looked at health records from millions of people in the U.S. covered by 14 commercial insurance plans and found that Long COVID patients had a higher risk of death and serious health issues.
- Addressing COVID-19 Misinformation: What the Experts Got Right—and Wrong: Acute COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the US, with 1 million deaths reported. There is abundant misinformation about the virus, including its spread by children, the benefits of masking, and the need to boost immunity. There is also a possibility that the virus may have escaped from a research lab. Vaccines are effective but their efficacy may be less than expected.
- People with Long COVID Have Higher Risk of Early Death – Time: A new study published in JAMA Health Forum has found that people with Long COVID have an increased risk of death and serious health problems compared to those who never had COVID-19. The study used health-record data from millions of people in the U.S. covered by 14 commercial insurance plans, and found that Long COVID patients had a higher risk of death and serious health issues than those who never had COVID-19.
- The state of emergency is over, but how well do you know what is true or false about COVID?: California’s COVID-19 state of emergency ended ceremoniously on Tuesday, February 2021. Three years after the emergency order was enacted, we have learned a lot about the virus, but there is still much to be examined and understood. This article provides an overview of what we have learned and how well we know it.
- WHO still working to identify the origins of COVID-19 – Reuters: WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that all hypotheses on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic remain on the table, and that WHO has not abandoned its work to identify the origins of the virus.
- Study: Long Covid associated with significantly increased risk of death, heart/lung problems: A new study has found that individuals who experience long Covid are at a higher risk for adverse health outcomes, including a doubled risk of death, in the year following infection. This highlights the need for further research and support for those affected by long Covid.
- ACC23 Study Finds Long COVID More Than Doubles Risk of Developing New Cardiac Symptoms: A study presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session found that people with long COVID are more than twice as likely to develop cardiovascular issues. The study was based on 11 major studies involving 5.8 million people.
- Long COVID associated with increased risk of death, study says – KETV: A new study has found that individuals with long COVID are at a higher risk of death, with 2.8% of those affected dying during the 12-month follow-up period. Other adverse health outcomes have also been linked to long COVID, emphasizing the need for continued research and support for those affected.
- Former student suing Union College over vaccine mandate – The Daily Gazette: Diamond Puentes, a former pre-med student at Union College, is suing the school and several high-ranking officials after she was expelled for refusing to get a COVID-19 booster shot. She claims the college attempted to coerce her into complying with the mandate despite filing for a medical exemption, and then engaged in a defamation campaign against her after she spoke out.
- Court temporarily blocks repeal of NY’s vaccine mandate | News | oleantimesherald.com: A court has temporarily blocked the repeal of New York’s COVID vaccination mandate for health care workers, while the state appeals a decision that struck down the mandate.
- COVID pill is first to cut short positive-test time after infection – Nature: An antiviral drug called ensitrelvir has been found to shorten symptoms of mild to moderate COVID-19 by about a day, and is the first drug to make a statistically significant cut in the number of days people test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The drug’s manufacturer claims it also has potential to prevent long COVID, but scientists are sceptical about this claim.
Daily News Pulse for March 13, 2023
Summary: Princeton students have seen an overall improvement in course satisfaction since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Japan, many people are still wearing masks despite the government’s easing of guidelines.
