October 02, 2020

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• In Today’s Recommendations for Industry, we again discuss COVID-19 testing with a few extra thoughts. Read more here.

• The CDC has refined some of its mask recommendations to state that it does  “not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is ongoing, but effectiveness is unknown at this time.” We will discuss this more next week. Read more here.

• Global cases of coronavirus have exceeded 34 million. The global death toll has exceeded 1 million.

• We already know that the acute loss of one’s sense of smell (anosmia) and taste is one of the major identifiers and symptoms of a COVID-19 infection. A recent study in PLOS Science also shows that this can be a stand-alone symptom of the virus, as about 40% of those with acute smell and/or taste loss do not have cough or fever! Thus, findings suggest that “recent loss of smell is a highly specific COVID-19 symptom.”

• The FDA has announced that “It’s a Good Time To Get Your Flu Vaccine.” Why? “It’s likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will circulate together this fall and winter. The flu vaccine will not prevent COVID-19. The flu vaccines are approved by the FDA for the prevention of influenza disease, so getting vaccinated can help keep you out of the doctor’s office and preserve health care resources for patients with other diseases and medical conditions, including COVID-19.” Read more here!

• Another large and recent study conducted in two southern Indian states has shown that poorly ventilated indoor spaces contribute greatly to triggering high numbers of new infections (especially within closed areas for extended periods of time). Children, even when they do not show symptoms, are transmitting the virus at rates just like the rest of the population. Read the study here. 

• Recap from this week:

  • Have you been confused by the CDC’s COVID changes? Simply stated: “nothing substantive has changed”; but, we discuss asymptomatic close-contact and testing. Read more from our Monday post here.

  • In this week’s Weekly Risk Matrix, we see that while some states have eased their re-opening guidance, an increasing number of states have TPRs greater than 10%. Additionally, case rates/100K population are also increasing. Read more here.

  • An early-release CDC MMWR report finds recent increases in COVID-19 cases among adults aged 18-22 years old. “During August 2–September 5, 2020, weekly COVID-19 cases among persons aged 18–22 years increased 55% nationally. Increases were greatest in the Northeast (144%) and Midwest (123%). Increases in cases were not solely attributable to increased testing.” For those that are back in school, the MMWR recommends, “[i]nstitutions of higher education should take action to promote healthy environments” which includes wearing masks, social distancing, hand hygiene, and incorporating local, state, and federal guidance for minimizing COVID-19 spread.

  • On Monday, the National Restaurant Association “called on the U.S. Conference of Mayors to continue to encourage expanded outdoor dining areas by streamlining permit processes and to incentivize efforts to prolong outdoor dining with tax credits or funding for purchases of equipment.”

  • A recent health policy paper explores the lessons learned and outcomes from an analysis of nine (9) countries in Asia Pacific and Europe that enacted COVID-19 restrictions, “Lessons learnt from easing COVID-19 restrictions: an analysis of countries and regions in Asia Pacific and Europe.” The paper addresses the various restrictions and their public-health, health-system, and community impacts.

  • A recently updated CDC MMWR characterized health care personnel with COVID-19. One’s demographics (older, male, Asian, or black or those with one or more underlying medical conditions) had significantly worse outcomes including higher death rates. Read the MMWR here.