7/22—Changes in taste and smell as an early marker for COVID-19
Disturbances of taste or smell were the strongest predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection (odds ratio, OR, 5.18; 95 % confidence interval, CI, 3.43-7.79; p<0.001) followed by myalgia [muscle pain] (OR 2.67; 95 % CI 1.81-3.97; p<0.001) (Luethgen et al. 2020).
Low ambient temperatures are associated with more rapid spread of COVID-19 in the early phase of the endemic
After adjusting for population density and GDP per capita, this increases to 97% of a day (b = 0.97, SE = 0.42, p = 0.02). Omission of a single extreme outlier (Singapore) reduces the effect size (b = 0.50, SE = 0.14) but improves statistical clarity (p < 0.001). Our data suggest that the ambient temperature plays a significant role for the spread of the COVID-19.
Proportion of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a systematic review and meta-analysis
The pooled percentage of asymptomatic infection is 15.6% (95% CI: 10.1%-23.0%). The pooled percentage of pre-symptomatic infection among 180 initially asymptomatic patients is 48.9% (95% CI: 31.6-66.2%). The pooled proportion of asymptomatic infection among 1,152 COVID-19 children from 11 studies is 27.7% (95% CI: 16.4-42.7%), which is much higher than patients from all aged groups.
Presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewaters and rivers
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in raw, but not in treated wastewaters. Virus infectivity was always null. Samples from receiving rivers (three sites) showed in some cases a positivity to real time RT-PCR, probably due to non-treated, or inefficiently treated discharges, or to the combined sewage overflows. Nevertheless, also for rivers infectivity was null.
Stepwise Strategy of Social Distancing in Korea
There are no clear standards for when and how to implement [social distancing, which has] high social and economic costs. Based on trial and error and accumulated experience, on June 28th, the government [divided social distancing] into 3 stages [table 2].
Get it by email: