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News for October 28 — COVID Long-haulers Report Mental Changes

WSJ: COVID-19 long-haulers report mental changes: https://www.wsj.com/articles/severe-covid-19-cases-leave-lasting-effects-including-on-mental-state-11603877402 . WSJ: Brain implants assist mobility: https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiny-brain-implants-hold-big-promise-for-immobilized-patients-11603882802 . Mask mandate slows hospitalizations: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2020/08/10/vanderbilt-mask-mandates-go-up-then-hospitalizations-slow-down/3323568001/ . WSJ: US pays $375 million for Lilly’s antibody drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-reaches-375-million-deal-for-lilly-covid-19-antibody-drug-11603908388 . Feds issue COVID-19 coverage rules: https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-virus-outbreak-medicare-medicaid-726549a6f691da3f5e17161d53d56c1c . Updating yesterday’s report, rules were issued today. Vaccination will be free for Medicare recipients. WSJ: More: …

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News for October 27 — COVID-19 Vaccination Free Under Medicare

COVID-19 vaccination free under Medicare: https://apnews.com/article/politics-virus-outbreak-seniors-medicare-medicaid-d5b621adae41ae1bca5212e862cb0481 . Pfizer’s Phase III trial not yet fully enrolled: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pandemic-dents-third-quarter-sales-for-pfizer-11603799937 . Eli Lilly continues to seek approval for antibody drug: https://www.wsj.com/articles/eli-lilly-earnings-halted-covid-19-drug-trial-disappoint-investors-11603822022 . Does a flu shot boost your immune response to COVID-19?: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-flu-shot-might-reduce-coronavirus-infections-early-research-suggests/ . Mission accomplished: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-coronavirus-white-house-science-office-pandemic-ended-covid-cases-b1387794.html . Apparently your Christmas fruitcake has arrived early. WSJ: Shorter quarantines intended …

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News for October 26 — COVID-19 Antibodies Decline Over Time

WSJ: Covid-19 antibodies decline over time: https://www.wsj.com/articles/study-shows-covid-19-antibodies-waning-over-time-suggesting-immunity-may-wear-off-11603757012 . Weekly COVID-19 case average hits all-time high: https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-10-26/us-7-day-average-of-coronavirus-cases-reaches-all-time-high . And it is going to continue upward for some time. We have indeed turned the corner. WSJ: Remdesivir/Lilly antibody combination study halted by NIH for lack of benefit: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nih-halts-study-exploring-treating-covid-19-with-lilly-antibody-remdesivir-11603757478 . WSJ: Pandemic fatigue takes hold: https://www.wsj.com/articles/bayer-to-buy-gene-therapy-firm-askbio-for-up-to-4-billion-11603697401 . Investigative …

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News for October 25 — COVID-19 Virus Has Low Genetic Diversity

COVID-19 virus has low genetic diversity: https://www.pnas.org/content/117/40/24614 . To be clear, we know the COVID-19 virus does mutate; it does so at a much lower rate than other viruses like the influenza virus. However, as discussed here previously, the global population currently carries an enormous COVID-19 virus load. This load increases the possibility that mutations …

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News for October 24 — Genetic Basis for COVID-19 Severity

Genetic basis for COVID-19 severity: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/10/found-genes-sway-course-coronavirus . CRISPR COVID-19 test: rapid, accurate, cheap: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/24/nobel-prize-crispr-gene-editing-technology-used-covid-tests/3650308001/ . WSJ: J&J, AstraZeneca vaccine trials resume: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-19-vaccine-trial-from-astrazeneca-oxford-can-resume-in-u-s-11603476923 . Blood donations dip: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/22/covid-19-pandemic-stifles-blood-donations-when-hospitals-need-most/6003532002/ . WSJ: COVID-19 batters Illinois: https://www.wsj.com/articles/illinois-businesses-brace-for-new-covid-19-restrictions-11603544400 . COVID-19 cases soar in US, Europe: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-italy-illinois-europe-spain-f316444dcfc6ac84aad9729558d8ba85 . WSJ: Europe loses ground in pandemic fight: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-europes-fight-against-covid-19-went-awry-over-the-summer-11603531801 . Pence to keep traveling …

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News for October 23 — US Sets Daily Case Record

US sets daily case record: https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-usa-cases/u-s-breaks-daily-record-for-coronavirus-cases-with-nearly-84000-new-infections-idUSFWN2HE1ON . Well, we’ve turned a corner, all right … US faces over half a million COVID-19 deaths by the end of February, 2021: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-us-masks/us-faces-half-a-million-covid-19-deaths-by-end-february-study-finds-idUSKBN27823B . WSJ: Rocky Mountain states the latest hot spot: https://www.wsj.com/articles/rocky-mountain-states-emerge-as-new-covid-19-hotspot-11603454400 . WSJ: Strange bedfellows in the vaccine race: https://www.wsj.com/articles/to-find-a-coronavirus-vaccine-glaxosmithkline-is-bonding-with-its-biggest-competitors-11603512029 . WSJ: Merck misjudges vaccine response: …

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News for October 22 — Declining COVID-19 Mortality Rates

More on declining COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/10/20/925441975/studies-point-to-big-drop-in-covid-19-death-rates . Why is COVID-19 so deadly?: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54648684 . WSJ: NYC’s declining COVID-19 mortality rates: https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-citys-covid-19-death-rate-has-dropped-in-recent-months-11603388389 . One thing the 3 articles above suggest is that COVID-19 was initially so deadly because its manifestations confused not just the body’s immune system, but also doctors. As doctors have learned more …

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News for October 21 — Oxford Vaccine Infighting; Brazilian Volunteer Dies

WSJ: Oxford vaccine infighting: https://www.wsj.com/articles/oxford-developed-covid-vaccine-then-scholars-clashed-over-money-11603300412 . Vaccine trials in children just beginning: https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-kids-testing-school-covid-19-37fdcb046044483d256c612d4432d7c9 . WSJ: Brazilian volunteer in Oxford vaccine trial dies of COVID-19: https://www.wsj.com/articles/volunteer-in-astrazeneca-oxford-coronavirus-vaccine-trial-dies-in-brazil-11603306508 . Apparently the volunteer received a placebo. FDA seeks outside help on vaccine approval standards: https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-e49203f5c55ba593ca587a56d0116b97 . WSJ: Pfizer preps for vaccine distribution: https://www.wsj.com/articles/pfizer-sets-up-its-biggest-ever-vaccination-distribution-campaign-11603272614 . Vaccine storage issues could leave …

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News for October 20 — Human Challenge Vaccine Trials

Human challenge vaccine trials in UK: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-54612293 . Human challenge vaccine trials are normally done for diseases where a cure exists (that is, to improve existing therapies). There are serious ethical questions in this move. If someone dies, “First do no harm” is basically out the window. WSJ: More: https://www.wsj.com/articles/volunteers-to-be-infected-with-coronavirus-in-planned-experimental-trials-11603203296 . Can COVID-19 cause diabetes?: …

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News for October 19 — COVID-19 Long-Haulers; Migration Drops

WSJ: COVID-19 long-haulers enter online support groups: https://www.wsj.com/articles/covid-patients-with-long-term-symptoms-turn-to-online-support-groups-11603145043 . WSJ: Doctor COVID-19 long-haulers enter online support groups: https://www.wsj.com/articles/these-doctors-have-long-term-covid-now-theyre-pushing-for-better-care-11603144474 . Coronavirus and conjunctivitis: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/pink-eye-covid-symptom.html . It appears the connection here is tenuous. There is not a large sample size, nor is there a controlled study. WSJ: Preliminary Moderna vaccine results anticipated in November: https://www.wsj.com/articles/moderna-ceo-expects-covid-19-vaccine-interim-results-in-november-11603164001 . Abbott’s …

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